Air blowing fan, circulator, micro-particle diffusion device, and air circulation method

ABSTRACT

An air blowing fan, comprising a crossflow-type impeller, and a first casing and a second casing for covering the impeller and for forming an air flow route, the first casing and the second casing being disposed next to each other in an axial direction of the impeller; and an outgoing direction of the air flow passing through the first casing and an outgoing direction of the air flow passing through the second casing being different from each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an air blowing fan for delivering anair flow. The present invention also relates to a circulator and aircirculation method for circulating air present in a room. The presentinvention further relates to a micro-particle diffusion device fordelivering, and diffusing within a room, ions or other micro-particles.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Citation 1 discloses a conventional circulator. This circulatoris mounted on a floor surface in a room, and has an inlet opened in alower part and an outlet opened in an upper surface. The driving of anair blowing fan disposed in the interior of the circulator causes airpresent in the room to be drawn in from the inlet along the floorsurface, and causes the air to be delivered forward and upward from theoutlet. This makes it possible to circulate the air present in the room.

Patent Citation 2 discloses a conventional micro-particle diffusiondevice. The micro-particle diffusion device is disposed on a top surfaceof a refrigerator or a similar surface, and has an air blowing fanprovided inside a chassis having a front surface on which an outlet isopened. The air blowing fan is composed of a Sirocco fan for taking inair in the axial direction and for discharging air in thecircumferential direction, and is disposed so as to have a verticalrotation shaft. Coupling between the air blowing fan and the outlet isprovided by an air blowing path. Downstream of the air blowing fan, theair blowing path gradually widens in the horizontal direction andgradually narrows in the vertical direction. A micro-particle generationdevice for generating ions, which are micro-particles, is disposedinside the air blowing path.

The air flow generated by the air blowing fan flows through the airblowing path, and an air flow which includes the micro-particlesgenerated by the micro-particle generation device is delivered forwardfrom the outlet. The air blowing path is formed so as to widen in thehorizontal direction downstream of the air blowing fan, the air flowdelivered from the outlet widens in the horizontal direction, and themicro-particles are diffused into the room. This makes it possible tosupply the inside of the room with positive ions and negative ions, andto sterilize airborne bacteria present in the room.

Patent Citation 3 discloses a circulator for circulating air present ina room, the circulator being provided with an air blowing fan having acrossflow-type impeller. This circulator is composed of an airconditioner, and has a chassis in an upper surface of which an inlet isopened and in a front surface lower part of which an outlet is opened. Aheat exchanger is disposed between the inlet and the air blowing fan,which is disposed inside the chassis.

The air blowing fan is composed of a crossflow fan in which the impelleris covered with a casing. The casing has one end where an intake-sideopening part from which the impeller projects is opened, the casingextending toward the exhaust side of the impeller and being coupled tothe outlet. An air flow route of the exhaust side of the impeller isthereby formed by the casing. A movable louver for rendering the winddirection variable between the horizontal direction and the verticaldirection is provided in the vicinity of the outlet within the air flowroute.

When the air blowing fan is driven, the air present in the room is takenin from the inlet into the chassis, and exchanges heat with the heatexchanger. The air having exchanged heat with the heat exchanger isguided to the exhaust side of the air blowing fan via an intake-sideopening part of the casing. Then, air is delivered from the outlet tothe inside of the room, air conditioning is provided for the inside ofthe room, and the air present in the room is circulated.

The air is delivered by the movable louver from the outlet toward apredetermined direction. This makes it possible for air to be deliveredin a plurality of directions in the room and for air to be circulated toevery corner of the room.

LIST OF CITATIONS Patent Literature

-   Patent Citation 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No.    8-270992 (pp. 2-5, FIG. 4)-   Patent Citation 2: Japanese Examined Patent Application No. 3797993    (pp. 4-18, FIGS. 1 and 2)-   Patent Citation 3: Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No.    2009-270530 (pp. 5-8, FIG. 1)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, according to the conventional circulator disclosed in PatentCitation 1, air delivered from the outlet is not adequately diffused inthe horizontal direction inside the room. Therefore, it becomesdifficult to circulate air to every corner of the room, which is aproblem. When a swing mechanism for causing the air blowing fan to swingin the horizontal direction is provided, it is possible to circulate airto every corner of the room, but a problem is presented in that thestructure then becomes complicated and the cost of the circulatorincreases in turn. A further problem is presented in that the air blownforward and upward out from the circulator directly hits a user presentin a living space in the center part in the room, and the user becomesless comfortable.

According to the conventional micro-particle diffusion device disclosedin Patent Citation 2, the air flow flowing through the air blowing pathwidens in the horizontal direction and is delivered forward from theoutlet. It is therefore possible to use a simple configuration todeliver air and/or micro-particles to a broad range inside the room inthe horizontal direction.

However, the kinetic energy of the air flow delivered from the outlet isdispossessed by the air present in the room, and therefore the distancereached by the air flow is shortened. Also, the flow route is tightenedin the vertical direction immediately after the air blowing fan, andtherefore the kinetic energy of the air flow cannot be adequatelyrecovered, and the static pressure inside the air blowing path isreduced. A problem is presented in that this prevents the air flow fromreaching a wall surface in the room that is distant from themicro-particle diffusion device, and makes it impossible to adequatelycirculate the air or diffuse the micro-particles. On the other hand,when the rotational speed of the air blowing fan is increased in orderto increase the distance reached by the air flow, a problem is presentedin that the noise and power consumption are increased.

Further, a problem is presented in that the air blowing forward out fromthe micro-particle diffusion device directly hits a user present in aliving space in the center part in the room, and the user becomes lesscomfortable.

The air blowing fan is disposed so as to have a vertical rotation shaft,and discharges air in a circumferential tangential direction, andtherefore a problem is presented in that the flow rate of the air flowflowing through the air blowing path becomes uneven in the horizontaldirection due to the centrifugal force of the air blowing fan.

A similar problem is also presented in a case where micro-particles ofan air freshener, deodorant, insecticide, disinfectant, or the likeother than ions are generated by the micro-particle generation device.

A problem is presented in that, according to the circulator disclosed inPatent Citation 3, providing the movable louver in order to deliver airin a plurality of directions in the room increases the cost because thestructure becomes complicated. In the vicinity of the outlet, the airflow is sharply bent by the louver in the vicinity of the outlet.Therefore, a problem is presented in that there is a greater loss ofpressure, the air blowing efficiency is degraded, and the noise isincreased.

It is possible to forgo the louver and cause the air flow route on theexhaust side of the air blowing fan to branch, thus delivering the airin a plurality of directions. However, in such a case as well, the airflow is similarly sharply bent at the exhaust side of the air blowingfan, and therefore the air blowing efficiency is degraded and the noiseis increased.

A similar problem is also presented for a micro-particle diffusiondevice for delivering and diffusing micro-particles into a room, inwhich the air flow route of the circulator is provided with amicro-particle generation device for generating ions or micro-particlesof an air freshener, deodorant, insecticide, disinfectant, or the like.

The present invention aims to provide a circulator and air circulationmethod that make it possible to conserve power and to adequatelycirculate air present in a room. The present invention also aims toprovide a micro-particle diffusion device that makes it possible toconserve power and to adequately diffuse micro-particles into a room.

The present invention further aims to provide: an air blowing fan forinexpensively improving air blowing efficiency and reducing noise, andenabling an air flow to be delivered in a plurality of directions; and acirculator and micro-particle diffusion device in which same is used.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the aforedescribed aims, the air blowing fan of thepresent invention comprises a crossflow-type impeller, and a firstcasing and a second casing for covering the impeller and for forming anair flow route, the first casing and the second casing being disposednext to each other in an axial direction of the impeller, an outgoingdirection of the air flow passing through the first casing; and anoutgoing direction of the air flow passing through the second casingbeing different from each other.

According to such a configuration, the crossflow-type impeller iscovered by the first casing and the second casing disposed next to eachother in the axial direction, thus forming the air blowing fan composedof a crossflow fan. The rotation of the impeller causes air on theintake side of the air blowing fan to penetrate through the impeller,and flow through the first casing and the second casing. The air flowflowing through the first casing is blown out in a predetermineddirection, and the air flow flowing through the second casing is blownout in a direction different from that of the air flow flowing throughthe first casing.

In a preferred aspect of the aforedescribed air blowing fan of thepresent invention, the first casing has one end where a firstintake-side opening part from which the impeller projects is opened, andextends toward an exhaust side of the impeller; the second casing hasone end where a second intake-side opening part from which the impellerprojects is opened, and extends toward the exhaust side of the impeller;and an opening surface of the first intake-side opening part and anopening surface of the second intake-side opening part are disposed atdifferent angles relative to a circumferential direction of theimpeller.

According to such a configuration, the rotation of the impeller causesthe air on the intake side of the air blowing fan to penetrate throughthe impeller and to flow into the first casing from the firstintake-side opening part as well as to flow into the second casing fromthe second intake-side opening part. The opening surface of the firstintake-side opening part and the opening surface of the secondintake-side opening part are disposed at different angles to thecircumferential direction of the impeller, and the first and secondcasings are each formed extending in predetermined directions from thefirst and second intake-side opening parts.

In a preferred aspect of the aforedescribed air blowing fan of thepresent invention, a predetermined range of the first casing relative tothe first intake-side opening part matches a shape where a predeterminedrange of the second casing relative to the second intake-side openingpart has been rotatingly moved around the center of rotation of theimpeller when seen from the axial direction of the impeller. Accordingto such a configuration, a wall surface of the first casing is formedwith a predetermined curvature relative to the first intake-side openingpart, and a wall surface of the second casing is formed with the samecurvature as the first casing in a predetermined range relative to thesecond intake-side opening part.

In an aspect of the aforedescribed air blowing fan of the presentinvention, the outgoing direction of the air flow flowing through thefirst casing, and the outgoing direction of the air flow flowing throughthe second casing may differ by 90° or more from each other.

An air blowing fan of the present invention also comprises:

a first impeller and a second impeller disposed on a single shaft;

a motor for rotatingly driving the first impeller and the secondimpeller; a first casing for covering the first impeller, the firstcasing having a first cylindrical part where a first air-intaking portis opened in an axial direction as well as a first outgoing passageextending from a circumferential surface of the first cylindrical partin a circumferential tangential direction and having a distal end wherea first outlet is opened; and

a second casing for covering the second impeller, the second casinghaving a second cylindrical part where a second air-intaking port isopened in an axial direction as well as a second outgoing passageextending from a circumferential surface of the second cylindrical partin a circumferential tangential direction and having a distal end wherea second outlet is opened;

the direction in which the first outgoing passage extends from the firstcylindrical part and the direction in which the second outgoing passageextends from the second cylindrical part being different from each otherin the circumferential direction, and an outgoing direction of the airflow blown out from the first outlet and an outgoing direction of theair flow blown out from the second outlet being different from eachother.

According to such a configuration, the first impeller and the secondimpeller are coupled on the rotation shaft of the motor, and the firstimpeller and the second impeller are covered by the first casing and thesecond casing, respectively. An air blowing fan composed of a multistagecentrifugal fan is thereby formed. The driving of the motor causes thefirst impeller and the second impeller to rotate, and air is drawn invia the first air-intaking port and the second air-intaking port in theaxial direction into the first casing and the second casing. The airhaving flowed into the first casing is discharged from the firstcylindrical part in the circumferential tangential direction, is causedto flow through the first outgoing passage, and is blown out from thefirst outlet in a predetermined direction. The air having flowed intothe second casing is discharged from the second cylindrical part in adirection different than the first outgoing passage of thecircumferential tangential direction, flows through the second outgoingpassage, and is blown out from the second outlet in a directiondifferent from that of the first outlet.

In a preferred aspect of the aforedescribed air blowing fan of thepresent invention, an opening area of the first outlet is smaller thanan opening area of the second outlet. According to such a configuration,an air flow is delivered at high speed from the first outlet having thesmaller opening area, and an air flow is delivered at low speed from thesecond outlet having a greater opening area than that of the firstoutlet.

In a preferred aspect of the aforedescribed air blowing fan of thepresent invention, a width of the first outlet in a directionperpendicular to the shaft is smaller than a width of the second outletin a direction perpendicular to the shaft.

In a preferred aspect of the aforedescribed air blowing fan of thepresent invention, the first outgoing passage has an upstream part wherethe flow route is gradually expanded in a direction perpendicular to theshaft, and, downstream of the upstream part, a downstream part where theflow route is kept constant or is gradually constricted in a directionperpendicular to the shaft until the first outlet; and the secondoutgoing passage has a flow route gradually expanding in a directionperpendicular to the shaft between the second cylindrical part and thesecond outlet.

According to such a configuration, the kinetic energy of the air flowflowing through the first outgoing passage is recovered and converted tostatic pressure at the upstream part where the flow route is graduallyexpanded in the direction perpendicular to the shaft. A decrease in theflow rate of this air flow is minimized at the downstream part where theflow route is kept constant or is gradually constricted. The air flow isthen delivered at high speed from the first outlet having the smalleropening area. The kinetic energy of the air flow flowing through thesecond outgoing passage is recovered and converted to static pressureuntil reaching the second opening, the flow route being graduallyexpanded in the direction perpendicular to the shaft. The air flow isthen delivered at low speed from the second outlet having an openingarea greater than that of the first outlet.

In a more preferred aspect of the aforedescribed air blowing fan of thepresent invention, the first impeller and the second impeller have acircular plate coupled to the motor as well as blades erected in aradiating shape on both surfaces of the circular plate, and the firstair-intaking port and the second air-intaking port are provided to bothsurfaces, in the axial direction, of the first cylindrical part and thesecond cylindrical part, respectively.

The present invention also provides a circulator for circulating airpresent in a room, the circulator being mounted on one side wall in theroom or on a ceiling wall located close to the one side wall in theroom; the circulator further comprising, in order from a first wallsurface adjacent to the one side wall in the horizontal direction, afirst outlet, a second outlet, and a third outlet, which outlets aredisposed next to each other in the horizontal direction; a first airflow which flows along the ceiling wall and descends along the firstwall surface being delivered from the first outlet; a second air flowwhich flows along the ceiling wall and descends along a second wallsurface facing the one side wall being delivered from the second outlet;and a third air flow which flows along the ceiling wall and descendsalong a third wall surface facing the first wall surface being deliveredfrom the third outlet.

According to such a configuration, the circulator is mounted, forexample, to the one side wall in the room, and the first outlet, thesecond outlet, and the third outlet are provided in order from, forexample, the right from the perspective of facing into the room. Thefirst air flow having been delivered from the first outlet toward theright flows along the ceiling wall and descends along the right sidewall (the first wall surface). The second air flow having been deliveredfrom the second outlet toward the front flows along the ceiling wall anddescends along the side wall facing the mounting wall (the second wallsurface). The third air flow having been delivered from the third outlettoward the left flows along the ceiling wall and descends along the leftside wall (the third wall surface). The air flows descending the firstwall surface, the second wall surface, and the third wall surface flowacross the floor surface in the room, rise along the mounting surface,and return to the circulator. The air flows are thereby circulated alongthe wall surfaces in the room, and the air present in the living spacein the center part in the room is thereby slowly circulated. Because thefirst, second, and third air flows proceed along the wall surfaces dueto the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect, the kinetic energy dispossessed bythe air present in the room can be minimized, and the distance reachedby the air flows can be increased.

In a preferred aspect of the circulator of the present invention, thecirculator comprises an air blowing fan made of a centrifugal fan or across-flow fan, and an air blowing path where the air blowing fan isdisposed so that a rotation shaft is disposed horizontally; the airblowing path is divided downstream of the air blowing fan; the firstoutlet, the second outlet, and the third outlet have a first dividedpassage, a second divided passage, and a third divided passage each ofwhich open in a front end; and a wall surface on an inside of the firstdivided passage and the third divided passage is inclined with respectto the vertical plane.

According to such a configuration, the air, which is delivered in thecircumferential direction from the air blowing fan disposed so as tohave a horizontal rotation shaft, flows branching into the first dividedpassage, the second divided passage, and the third divided passage. Theair flowing through the first divided passage advances guided toward,for example, the right along the side wall, which is inclined withrespect to the vertical plane, and the first air flow is delivered fromthe first outlet. The air flowing through the second divided passage isguided forward, and the second air flow is delivered from the secondoutlet. The air flowing through the third divided passage advancesguided toward, for example, the left along the side wall, which isinclined with respect to the vertical plane, and the third air flow isdelivered from the third outlet.

In a preferred aspect of the circulator of the present invention, thecirculator is provided with a fourth outlet for delivering downward afourth air flow flowing along the one side wall. According to such aconfiguration, the fourth air flow having been delivered downward fromthe fourth outlet descends along the mounting surface.

In a preferred aspect of the circulator of the present invention, thecirculator is provided with a fourth outlet for delivering a fourth airflow oriented downward and forward, and a flow rate of the fourth airflow is less than a flow rate of the second air flow. According to sucha configuration, the fourth air flow having been delivered downward andforward from the fourth outlet is directly supplied to the living spacein the room. At such a time, because the flow rate of the fourth airflow is less than the flow rate of the second air flow, discomfortcaused by the fourth air flow directly hitting the user is minimized.

The present invention also provides a circulator comprising: a chassisopening at an inlet and an outlet; an air blowing path for coupling theinlet and the outlet, the air blowing path being provided inside thechassis; and an air blowing fan for delivering an air flow in acircumferential direction, the air blowing fan being disposed in the airblowing path; the circulator being adapted to deliver, from the outlet,air present in the room flowing from the inlet into the air blowing pathand adapted to circulate the air present in the room; the air blowingpath having: a perpendicular-direction-expanded part where, downstreamof the air blowing fan, the flow route is gradually expanded in adirection perpendicular to a rotation shaft of the air blowing fan; and,downstream of the perpendicular-direction-expanded part, anaxial-direction-expanded part where the flow route is gradually expandedin an axial direction of the rotation shaft and is kept constant orgradually constricted in the direction perpendicular to the rotationshaft.

According to such a configuration, the air blowing fan is composed of acentrifugal fan or a cross-flow fan, and, for example, the rotationshaft is disposed horizontally. The driving of the air blowing fancauses air present in the room to flow into the air blowing path fromthe inlet, and to be discharged in the circumferential direction of theair blowing fan. The perpendicular-direction-expanded part downstream ofthe air blowing fan gradually expands in the vertical direction, and thekinetic energy of the air flow is recovered and converted to staticpressure. The axial-direction-expanded part downstream of theperpendicular-direction-expanded part gradually widens in the horizontaldirection and is constant or constricted in the vertical direction. Theair flow flowing through the axial-direction-expanded part is therebywidened in the horizontal direction and any decrease in the flow speedis thereby minimized. Also, the air flow is delivered from the outlet toa broad range in the horizontal direction, and the air present in theroom is circulated. The rotation shaft of the air blowing fan may bedisposed with a horizontal incline or may be disposed vertically.

In a preferred aspect of the circulator of the present invention, a flowroute surface area of the axial-direction-expanded part expandsproportionately with downstream movement. According to such aconfiguration, the kinetic energy of the air flow flowing through theaxial-direction-expanded part is recovered and converted to staticpressure.

In a preferred aspect of the circulator of the present invention, thecirculator has a plurality of divided passages coupled to theperpendicular-direction-expanded part and to theaxial-direction-expanded part, the divided passages being divided in theaxial direction of the rotation shaft. According to such aconfiguration, the air flows flow along the wall surfaces of the dividedpassages and widen smoothly in the axial direction of the rotationshaft.

In a more preferred aspect of the circulator of the present invention,the chassis is disposed in the vicinity of the ceiling wall in the room,the rotation shaft being disposed horizontally; the outlet is formed onan upper end of the chassis; and the air flow is delivered from theoutlet along the ceiling wall. According to such a configuration, theair flow delivered along the ceiling wall in the room from the outletflows along the ceiling wall due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect,and the distance reached by the air flow can be further lengthened.

In a more preferred aspect of the circulator of the present invention,the chassis is disposed in the vicinity of the ceiling wall in the room,the rotation shaft being disposed horizontally; the outlet is formed ona lower part of the chassis, and the air flow is delivered upward fromthe outlet. According to such a configuration, the air flow deliveredupward from the outlet reaches the ceiling wall in the room and, due tothe Coand{hacek over (a)} effect, flows along the ceiling wall, and thedistance reached by the air flow can be further lengthened.

Further, the circulator of the present invention comprises theaforedescribed crossflow-type air blowing fan, an air flow beingdelivered in a plurality of directions into a room, and air present inthe room being circulated. According to such a configuration, the airflow flowing through the first casing is delivered into the room, andthe air flow flowing through the second casing is delivered in adirection different from that of the air flow flowing through the firstcasing. The air having been delivered into the room circulates withinthe room and returns to the intake side of the air blowing fan.

In a preferred aspect of the circulator of the present invention, an airflow is delivered into the room by the first casing horizontally orforward and upward; and an air flow is delivered downward into the roomby the second casing. According to such a configuration, the air flowflowing through the first casing is delivered into the room horizontallyor forward and upward, and circulates within the room. The air flowflowing through the second casing is delivered downward into the room,and flows along the side wall to which the circulator is provided.

Further, the circulator of the present invention comprises: an airblowing fan comprising the aforedescribed multistage centrifugal beingprovided to a chassis; an air flow being delivered in a plurality ofdirections into a room; and the air present in the room beingcirculated. According to such a configuration, the air flow flowingthrough the first casing is delivered into the room, and the air flowflowing through the second casing is delivered in a direction differentfrom that of the air flow flowing through the first casing. The airhaving been delivered into the room circulates within the room andreturns to the intake side of the air blowing fan.

In an aspect of the circulator of the present invention, an air flow maybe delivered by the first casing vertically upward or backward andupward from the first outlet; and an air flow may be delivered by thesecond casing forward and upward from the second outlet. According tosuch a configuration, when the circulator is mounted in the vicinity ofa corner between the one side wall and the floor surface in the room,the air flow flowing through the first casing is blown out along theside wall from the first outlet. This air flow returns to the circulatorby passing across the floor surface and the side wall facing thecirculator. The air flow flowing through the second casing is deliveredtoward the living space in the room from the second outlet, and returnsto the circulator by passing across the floor surface.

In another aspect of the circulator of the present invention, an airflow may be delivered by the first casing horizontally or forward andupward from the first outlet; and an air flow may be delivered by thesecond casing forward and downward into the room from the second outlet.According to such a configuration, when the circulator is mounted in thevicinity of a corner between the one side wall and the ceiling wall inthe room, the air flow flowing through the first casing is blown outalong the ceiling wall from the first outlet. This air flow returns tothe circulator by passing across the side wall facing the circulator,across the floor surface, and across the side wall on which thecirculator is disposed. The air flow flowing through the second casingis delivered toward the living space in the room from the second outletand returns to the circulator by passing across the floor surface andacross the side wall on which the circulator is disposed.

In a preferred aspect of the circulator of the present invention, thefirst outlet and the second outlet are provided to one surface of thechassis; a mounting surface facing the one surface is able to abut afloor surface in the room and be mounted on the floor surface, and themounting surface is able to abut a side wall in the room and to bemounted on the side wall. According to such a configuration, thecirculator can provide support for both floor surface set-up and wallmounting, in either of which cases the air present in the room can stillbe favorably circulated.

In an aspect of the circulator of the present invention, the circulatormay be comprises a HEPA filter for collecting dust in the air flowinginto the first casing and into the second casing. According to such aconfiguration, air from which the dust has been removed by the HEPAfilter is delivered into the room. The HEPA filter increases the loss ofpressure, but the air blowing fan, which has been formed from acentrifugal fan having high static pressure, prevents any decrease inthe air blowing efficiency.

The present invention also provides a micro-particle diffusion devicefor delivering micro-particles into a room, the device having amicro-particle generation device for generating the micro-particles, andthe device being mounted on one side wall in the room or a ceiling walllocated close to the one side wall in the room, the micro-particlediffusion device further comprising, in order from a first wall surfaceadjacent to the one side wall in the horizontal direction, a firstoutlet, a second outlet, and a third outlet disposed next to each otherin the horizontal direction; a first air flow which flows along theceiling wall and descends along the first wall surface being deliveredfrom the first outlet; a second air flow which flows along the ceilingwall and descends along a second wall surface facing the one side wallbeing delivered from the second outlet; and a third air flow which flowsalong the ceiling wall and descends along a third wall surface facingthe first wall surface being delivered from the third outlet.

According to such a configuration, the micro-particle diffusion deviceis mounted onto, for example, the one side wall in the room, and airwhich includes the micro-particles is delivered into the room. The firstair flow having been delivered toward the right from the first outletflows along the ceiling wall and descends along the right side wall (thefirst wall surface). The second air flow having been delivered forwardfrom the second outlet flows along the ceiling wall and descends alongthe side wall facing the mounting surface (the second wall surface). Thethird air flow having been delivered toward the left from the thirdoutlet flows along the ceiling wall, and descends along the left sidewall (the third wall surface). The air flows descending the first wallsurface, the second wall surface, and the third wall surface flow acrossthe floor surface in the room, rise along the mounting surface, andreturn to the micro-particle diffusion device. The air flows, whichinclude the micro-particles, are thereby circulated along the wallsurfaces in the room, and the micro-particles are thereby slowlydiffused into the living space in the center part in the room. Becausethe first, second, and third air flows proceed along the wall surfacesdue to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect, the kinetic energy dispossessedby the air present in the room is minimized, and the distance reached bythe air flows can be increased.

The present invention also provides a micro-particle diffusion devicecomprising: a chassis that opens at an inlet and an outlet; an airblowing path for coupling the inlet and the outlet, the air blowing pathbeing provided inside the chassis; an air blowing fan for delivering anair flow in a circumferential direction, the air blowing fan beingdisposed in the air blowing path; and a micro-particle generation devicefor generating micro-particles, the micro-particle generation devicebeing disposed downstream of the air blowing fan, and themicro-particles being introduced into air present in the room flowinginto the air blowing path from the inlet, and being delivered from theoutlet; the air blowing path having: a perpendicular-direction-expandedpart where, downstream of the air blowing fan, the flow route isgradually expanded in a direction perpendicular to a rotation shaft ofthe air blowing fan; and, downstream of theperpendicular-direction-expanded part, an axial-direction-expanded partwhere the flow route is gradually expanded in an axial direction of therotation shaft and is kept constant or gradually constricted in thedirection perpendicular to the rotation shaft.

According to such a configuration, the air blowing fan is composed of acentrifugal fan or a cross-flow fan, and, for example, the rotationshaft is disposed horizontally. The driving of the air blowing fancauses air present in the room to flow into the air blowing path fromthe inlet, and to be discharged in the circumferential direction of theair blowing fan. The perpendicular-direction-expanded part downstream ofthe air blowing fan is gradually expanded in the vertical direction, andthe kinetic energy of the air flow is recovered and converted to staticpressure. The axial-direction-expanded part downstream of theperpendicular-direction-expanded part gradually widens in the horizontaldirection and is constant or constricted in the vertical direction. Theair flow flowing through the axial-direction-expanded part is therebywidened in the horizontal direction and any decrease in the flow speedis thereby minimized. The air flow including the micro-particlesgenerated by the micro-particle generation device is delivered from theoutlet to a broad range in the horizontal direction, and themicro-particles are diffused into the room. The rotation shaft of theair blowing fan may be disposed with a horizontal incline or may bedisposed vertically.

Further, the micro-particle diffusion device of the present inventioncomprises the aforedescribed crossflow-type air blowing fan, as well asa micro-particle generation device for generating micro-particles; anair flow that includes the micro-particles being delivered into the roomin a plurality of directions, and the micro-particles being diffusedinto the room. According to such a configuration, the micro-particlesgenerated by the micro-particle generation device are included in theair flows flowing through the first casing and the second casing. Theair flow flowing through the first casing is delivered into the room,and the air flow flowing through the second casing is delivered in adirection different from that of the air flow flowing through the firstcasing. The micro-particles are thereby diffused into the room.

In a preferred aspect of the micro-particle diffusion device of thepresent invention, an air flow is delivered into the room by the firstcasing horizontally or forward and upward; and an air flow is delivereddownward into the room by the second casing. According to such aconfiguration, the air flow flowing through the first casing isdelivered horizontally or forward and upward into the room, and themicro-particles are diffused into the room. The air flow flowing throughthe second casing is delivered downward into the room and flows alongthe wall surface to which the micro-particle diffusion device isprovided, and the micro-particles are supplied downward.

Further, the micro-particle diffusion device of the present inventioncomprises a micro-particle generation device for generatingmicro-particles within the aforedescribed circulator having themulti-stage centrifugal fan; an air flow that includes themicro-particles being delivered into the room in a plurality ofdirections, and the micro-particles being diffused into the room.According to such a configuration, the micro-particles generated by themicro-particle generation device are included in the air flows flowingthrough the first casing and the second casing. The air flow flowingthrough the first casing is delivered into the room, and the air flowflowing through the second casing is delivered in a direction differentfrom that of the air flow flowing through the first casing. Themicro-particles are thereby diffused into the room.

In an aspect of the micro-particle diffusion device of the presentinvention, the micro-particles generated by the micro-particlegeneration device may include any of ions, an air freshener, adeodorant, an insecticide, and a disinfectant.

The present invention also provides an air circulation method forcausing air present in a room to circulate using a circulator mounted ina vicinity of a corner between one side wall and a ceiling wall in theroom; the circulator comprising, in order from a first wall surfaceadjacent to the one side wall in the horizontal direction, a firstoutlet, a second outlet, and a third outlet disposed next to each otherin the horizontal direction; a first air flow which flows along theceiling wall and descends along the first wall surface being deliveredfrom the first outlet; a second air flow which flows along the ceilingwall and descends along a second wall surface facing the one side wallbeing delivered from the second outlet; and a third air flow which flowsalong the ceiling wall and descends along a third wall surface facingthe first wall surface being delivered from the third outlet.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

The present invention comprises a first outlet, a second outlet, and athird outlet disposed next to each other in the horizontal direction; afirst air flow which flows along the ceiling wall and descends along afirst wall surface being delivered from the first outlet, a second airflow which flows along the ceiling wall and descends along a second wallsurface facing a one side wall being delivered from the second outlet,and a third air flow which flows along the ceiling wall and descendsalong a third wall surface facing the first wall surface being deliveredfrom the third outlet.

As a consequence thereof, because the first, second, and third air flowsproceed along the wall surfaces due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect,the kinetic energy dispossessed by the air present in the room isminimized, and the distance reached by the air flows can be increased.Accordingly, power can be conserved, and, because no air flow issupplied directly to the living space, the discomfort of the user can bereduced, and the air present in the room can be adequately circulated.

According to the present invention, the perpendicular-direction-expandedpart has a flow route gradually expanding in the direction perpendicularto the rotation shaft of the air blowing fan, and, downstream of theperpendicular-direction-expanded part, the axial-direction-expanded parthas a flow route gradually expanding in the axial direction of therotation shaft of the air blowing fan and kept constant or graduallyconstricted in the perpendicular direction, wherefore it is possible toprevent an uneven flow rate caused by the centrifugal force of the airblowing fan. Additionally, in the perpendicular-direction-expanded part,the kinetic energy of the air flow is adequately converted to staticpressure, thus increasing the static pressure, following which, in theaxial-direction-expanded part, any decrease in the speed of the air flowis minimized and the air flow is widened in the axial direction.Thereby, power can be conserved, and also the distance reached by theair flows can be increased. Accordingly, the air present in the room canbe adequately circulated.

According to the micro-particle diffusion device of the presentinvention, power can be conserved, and also the micro-particles can beadequately diffused into the room. Additionally, because no air flow issupplied directly to the living space, the discomfort of the user can bereduced.

According to the present invention, the first and second casings forcovering the impeller of the crossflow-type air blowing fan are disposednext to each other in the axial direction of the impeller, and theoutgoing directions of the air flows passing through each [of thecasings] (*1) are different from each other, wherefore a simpleconfiguration can be used to deliver air flows in a plurality ofdirections. Because the air flows are not bent sharply, a decrease inthe loss of pressure can be prevented, the air blowing efficiency can beimproved, and noise can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the first and second impellers,which are disposed on the same shaft, are driven by the one motor. Also,the direction in which the first outgoing passage extends from thecircumferential surface of the first cylindrical part for covering thefirst impeller, and the direction in which the second outgoing passageextends from the circumferential surface of the second cylindrical partfor covering the second impeller are different from each other in thecircumferential direction; and the outgoing direction of the air flowbeing blown out from the first outlet, and the outgoing direction of theair flow being blown out from the second outlet are different from eachother. This makes it possible to use a simple configuration to deliverair flows in a plurality of directions. Because the air flows are notbent sharply, an increase in the loss of pressure can be prevented, theair blowing efficiency can be improved, and noise can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a micro-particle diffusion device of afirst embodiment of the present invention, when seen from above;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the micro-particle diffusion device ofthe first embodiment of the present invention, when seen from below;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the micro-particle diffusion device of thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side surface cross-sectional view along A-A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an upper surface cross-sectional view along B-B in FIG. 3:

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a state of air flow in a room of themicro-particle diffusion device of the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a side surface cross-sectional view of a micro-particlediffusion device of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side surface cross-sectional view of a micro-particlediffusion device of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side surface cross-sectional view of a micro-particlediffusion device of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a micro-particle diffusion device of afifth embodiment of the present invention, when seen from above;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the micro-particle diffusion device ofthe fifth embodiment of the present invention, when seen from below;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the micro-particle diffusion device of thefifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side surface cross-sectional view along D-D in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side surface cross-sectional view along E-E in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is an upper surface cross-sectional view along C-C in FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating a state of air flow in a room of themicro-particle diffusion device of the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a micro-particle diffusion device of asixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a side surface cross-sectional view of the micro-particlediffusion device of the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a front surface cross-sectional view illustrating an airblowing fan of the micro-particle diffusion device of the sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a side surface cross-sectional view of a micro-particlediffusion device of a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a micro-particle diffusion device of aneighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a side surface cross-sectional view of the micro-particlediffusion device of the eighth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 23 is a side surface cross-sectional view of a micro-particlediffusion device of a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

There follows a description of embodiments of the present invention,with reference to the accompanying drawings. A micro-particle diffusiondevice of a first embodiment is seen in a perspective view in FIG. 1from above, is seen in a perspective view in FIG. 2 from below, and isseen in a front view in FIG. 3. A micro-particle diffusion device 1 iscovered by a chassis 2, and is disposed in the vicinity of a cornerbetween one side wall S and a ceiling wall T in a room (see FIG. 4). Thechassis 2 may be attached onto the side wall S, or may be mounted ontothe ceiling wall T in the vicinity of the side wall S.

Inlets 5 open on a lower surface of the chassis 2. A filter 6 isdisposed on the inlets 5. In order from the right facing into the room,first outlets 4 a, second outlets 4 b, and third outlets 4 c aredisposed next to each other in the horizontal direction on a frontsurface upper part of the chassis 2. The first outlets 4 a, the secondoutlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c are provided to an upper end ofthe chassis 2, and deliver air along the ceiling wall T (see FIG. 4). Asshall be described in greater detail below, the first outlets 4 adeliver air to the right from the chassis 2, the second outlets 4 bdeliver air to the front from the chassis 2, and the third outlets 4 cdeliver air to the left from the chassis 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are a side surface cross-sectional view along A-A in FIG.3 and an upper surface cross-sectional view along B-B in FIG. 3,respectively. An air blowing path 10 for coupling the first outlets 4 a,the second outlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c with the inlets 5 isprovided within the chassis 2. An air blowing fan 8 is disposed withinthe air blowing path 10. The air blowing fan 8 is composed of acrossflow fan (a cross-flow fan) in which a rotary wing (not shown) isdriven to rotate by a fan motor 8 a, the rotation shaft being disposedin the horizontal direction. The driving of the fan motor 8 a causes theair blowing fan 8 to draw in air from the circumferential direction ofthe rotary wing (not shown), and to discharge air in the circumferentialdirection thereof. The air blowing fan 8 may also be formed of acentrifugal fan having a rotation shaft disposed in the horizontaldirection.

Pluralities of first divided passages 10 a, second divided passages 10b, and third divided passages 10 c, which are divided downstream of theair blowing fan 8 in the horizontal direction, are provided, in thestated order, within the air blowing path 10. The first divided passages10 a, the second divided passages 10 b, and the third divided passages10 c each have a front end at which the first outlets 4 a, the secondoutlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c open. A side wall 10 e inside thefirst divided passages 10 a and the third divided passages 10 c as wellas a side wall 10 f outside the first divided passages 10 a and thethird divided passages 10 c are formed of a curved surface which isinclined with respect to the vertical plane.

Each of the first divided passages 10 a, the second divided passages 10b, and the third divided passages 10 c has aperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11 and an axial-direction-expandedpart 12 formed downstream of the air blowing fan 8. Theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11 has a flow route graduallyexpanding in the direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft of theair blowing fan 8. Downstream of the perpendicular-direction-expandedpart 11, the axial-direction-expanded part 12 has a flow route graduallyexpanding in the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the airblowing fan 8 and gradually constricted in the perpendicular directionthereof.

The flow route surface area of the axial-direction-expanded part 12 isexpanded proportionately to the downstream movement. The first dividedpassages 10 a, the second divided passages 10 b, and the third dividedpassages 10 c are formed coupled to the perpendicular-direction-expandedpart 11 and the axial-direction-expanded part 12.

Electrodes 7 a, 7 b of micro-particle generation devices 7 are disposedexposed on the first divided passages 10 a, the second divided passages10 b, and the third divided passages 10 c. Each of the electrodes 7 a, 7b is arranged partitioned by a partition wall 10 d within the firstdivided passages 10 a, the second divided passages 10 b, and the thirddivided passages 10 c.

A voltage composed of an alternating current waveform or an impulsewaveform is applied to the electrodes 7 a, 7 b. A positive voltage isapplied to the electrode 7 a, and ions generated by ionization combinewith moisture present in the air, thus forming positively chargedcluster ions composed primarily of Fr (H₂O) m. A negative voltage isapplied to the electrode 7 b, and ions generated by ionization combinewith moisture present in the air, thus forming negatively chargedcluster ions composed primarily of O₂ ⁻(H₂O)n. Herein, “m” and “n” areany natural number.

The m H⁺(H₂O) ions and the n O₂ ⁻(H₂O) ions aggregate on and surroundsurfaces of airborne bacteria and malodorous components in the air.Then, as indicated in Formulae (1) to (3), the collision causes hydroxylradicals ([—OH]) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which are active species,to be aggregatedly created on the surface of the airborne bacteria,malodorous components, and the like, which are then destroyed. Herein,“m′” and “n′” are any natural number. Accordingly, positive ions andnegative ions are generated and ejected from the first outlets 4 a, thesecond outlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c, thereby making itpossible to remove bacteria and odors present in the room.

H⁺(H₂O)m+O₂(H₂O)n→.OH+½O₂+(m+n)H₂O  (1)

H⁺(H₂O)m+H⁺(H₂O)m′+O₂ ⁻(H₂O)n+O₂ ⁻(H₂O)n′→2.OH+O₂+(m+m′+n+n′)H₂O  (2)

H⁺(H₂O)m+H⁺(H₂O)m′+O₂ ⁻(H₂O)n+O₂ ⁻(H₂O)n′→H₂O₂+O₂+(m+m′+n+n′)H₂O  (3)

In the micro-particle diffusion device 1 having the above configuration,when the air blowing fan 8 and the micro-particle generation devices 7are driven, the air present in the room is taken in from the inlets 5into the chassis 2. Dust in the air taken into the chassis 2 iscollected by the filter 6, and the air then passes through the airblowing path 10 and is guided to the air blowing fan 8.

Discharged air of the air blowing fan 8 branches into the first dividedpassages 10 a, the second divided passages 10 b, and the third dividedpassages 10 e; and is guided to the first outlets 4 a, the secondoutlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c, respectively. At such a time,when the rotation shaft of the air blowing fan 8 is arranged so as to bevertical, the centrifugal force causes the air flow to be uneven in thehorizontal direction. For this reason, the rotation shaft of the airblowing fan 8 can be disposed so as to be horizontal, thus rendering theair flow in the horizontal direction uniform. Additionally, because theside wall 10 e inside the first divided passages 10 a and the thirddivided passages 10 c is inclined with respect to the vertical plane,the air flow proceeding straight from the air blowing fan 8 in thecircumferential tangential direction can be readily curved.

In the perpendicular-direction-expanded part 11, the flow route widensin the vertical direction, and in the axial-direction-expanded part 12,the flow route widens in the horizontal direction. In theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11, which is upstream of theaxial-direction-expanded part 12, the centrifugal force of the airblowing fan 8 where air is discharged in the circumferential directionhas a major influence. For this reason, the air flow proceeds in thedirection perpendicular to the rotation shaft of the air blowing fan 8,and therefore a horizontal widening is not desirable. Causing the flowroute to be expanded in the vertical direction in theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11 recovers, and converts tostatic pressure, the kinetic energy of the air flow, thus increasing thestatic pressure. This makes it possible to improve the air blowingperformance of the micro-particle diffusion device 1. In theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11, the width in the horizontaldirection of the flow route may be constant, or may be slightlyconstricted. At such a time, the flow route surface area is graduallyexpanded proportionately to the downstream movement.

In the axial-direction-expanded part 12, the flow route is expanded inthe horizontal direction in a state where the centrifugal force from theair blowing fan 8 is weakened, and therefore the air flow can besmoothly curved and widened in the horizontal direction without anyincrease in the loss of pressure. Also, the flow route is tightened inthe vertical direction, and therefore the air flow can be more smoothlywidened in the horizontal direction and any decrease in the speed of theair flow can be minimized. At such a time, because the flow routesurface area of the axial-direction-expanded part 12 is expandedproportionately to the downstream movement, the kinetic energy can alsobe recovered and converted to static pressure in theaxial-direction-expanded part 12 as well, thus increasing the staticpressure. In the axial-direction-expanded part 12, the width in thevertical direction of the flow route may be kept constant, or the flowroute surface area may be kept constant.

Due to the micro-particle generation devices 7, the air flows flowingthrough the first divided passages 10 a, the second divided passages 10b, and the third divided passages 10 c include positive ions andnegative ions. Air flows including the positive ions and the negativeions are thereby delivered from the first outlets 4 a, the secondoutlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c.

FIG. 6 illustrates a state of the air flows, in a room D, beingdelivered from the micro-particle diffusion device 1. A first air flowA1 delivered to the right from the first outlets 4 a flows along theceiling wall T, and descends along a right side wall (a first wallsurface P1). A second air flow A2 delivered forward from the secondoutlets 4 b flows along the ceiling wall T, and descends along a sidewall (a second wall surface P2) facing the side wall S on which themicro-particle diffusion device 1 is disposed. A third air flow A3delivered to the left from the third outlets 4 c flows along the ceilingwall T, and descends along a left side wall (a third wall surface P3).

The air flows descending the first wall surface P1, the second wallsurface P2, and the third wall surface P3 flow across a floor surface Fin the room, rise along the side wall S, and return to the inlet 5 ofthe micro-particle diffusion device 1. This makes it possible for theair flows to be circulated along each of the wall surfaces in the roomand for every corner in the room to be blanketed with ions. Further, theair flows flowing along the wall surfaces cause the ions to be slowlydiffused into the living space in the center part in the room. Becausethe first, second, and third air flows A1, A2, A3 proceed along the wallsurfaces due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect, the kinetic energydispossessed by the air present in the room is minimized. This makes itpossible to minimize power consumption and to increase the distancereached by the air flows.

The polarities of the ions generated by the electrodes 7 a, 7 b may alsobe switched each time a predetermined period of time elapses.Specifically, positive ions are generated from the electrode 7 a andnegative ions are generated from the electrode 7 b. When thepredetermined period of time elapses, negative ions are generated fromthe electrode 7 a and positive ions are generated from the electrode 7b. When the predetermined period of time has again elapsed, positiveions are generated from the electrode 7 a and negative ions aregenerated from the electrode 7 b, and this operation is repeated.

The positive ions and the negative ions are thereby alternatinglydelivered to the left end and the right end of the air flows beingdelivered with the first divided passages 10 a, the second dividedpassages 10 b, and the third divided passages 10 c widening left andright. Accordingly, the positive ions and the negative ions can bedistributed at high concentrations over a broad range in the horizontaldirection within the living room.

According to the present embodiment, which comprises the first outlets 4a, the second outlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c disposed next toeach other in the horizontal direction, the first air flow A1 whichflows along the ceiling wall T and descends along the first wall surfaceP1 is delivered from the first outlets 4 a; the second air flow A2 whichflows along the ceiling wall T and descends along the second wallsurface P2 facing the side wall S is delivered from the second outlets,and the third air flow A3 which flows along the ceiling wall T anddescends along the third wall surface P3 facing the first wall surfaceP1 is delivered from the third outlets 4 c.

Because the first, second, and third air flows A1, A2, A3 proceed alongthe wall surfaces due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect, the kineticenergy dispossessed by the air present in the room is thereby minimized.Specifically, in a case where an air flow does not run along the ceilingwall T, the upper side of the air flow pulls in peripheral air (airpresent between the ceiling wall T and the air flow) and kinetic energyis lost, dispossessed by the peripheral air. In the case where the airflows run along the ceiling wall T, while the frictional resistance ofthe wall surface does cause kinetic energy to be lost, this is generallymuch smaller than the kinetic energy lost in a case where the air flowdoes not run along the ceiling wall T. In the conventional airconditioner recited in the aforementioned Patent Citation 2, the airflow is not made to run along the ceiling wall T; therefore, kineticenergy is dispossessed by the peripheral air, and the distance reachedby the air flow is proportionately shortened.

For this reason, in the present embodiment, the distance reached by theair flows can be increased and every corner in the room can be blanketedwith ions. Accordingly, power can be conserved, and, because no air flowis supplied directly to the living space, the discomfort of the user canbe reduced, and the ions can be adequately diffused into the room.

Because the rotation shaft of the air blowing fan 8 composed of acentrifugal fan or cross-flow fan is disposed so as to be horizontal;because the air blowing path 10 has the first divided passages 10 a, thesecond divided passages 10 b, and the third divided passages 10 c, whichare divided downstream of the air blowing fan; and because the sidewalls 10 e inside the first divided passages 10 a and the third dividedpassages 10 c are inclined with respect to the vertical plane, the airflows can be rendered even in the horizontal direction, and the air flowproceeding directly in the circumferential tangential direction can bereadily curved.

The perpendicular-direction-expanded part 11 the flow route graduallyexpanding in the direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft of theair blowing fan 8, and, downstream of theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11, the axial-direction-expandedpart 12 has a flow route gradually expanding in the axial direction ofthe rotation shaft of the air blowing fan 8 and gradually constrictingin the perpendicular direction thereof. This makes it possible toprevent unevenness of the flow rate caused by the centrifugal force ofthe air blowing fan 8, and possible to widen the air flow in the axialdirection of the rotation shaft of the air blowing fan 8.

Additionally, because the flow route surface area is not tightened inthe perpendicular-direction-expanded part 11 immediately after the airblowing fan 8, the kinetic energy of the air flow is adequatelyrecovered, thus increasing the static pressure. Thereafter, any decreasein the speed of the air flow in the axial-direction-expanded part 12 isminimized, and the air flow is widened in the axial direction. Thismakes it possible to increase the distance reached by the air flowwithout increasing the rotational speed of the air blowing fan 8.Accordingly, power conservation and noise reduction in themicro-particle diffusion device 1 are possible, and the ions can beadequately diffused into the room.

The centrifugal force of the air blowing fan 8 has a major effect in theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11, and even though the width inthe horizontal direction of the flow route is gradually widened, thereexists the possibility not only that the effect of the horizontalwidening of the flow route may be decreased, but rather that even theperformance of the air blowing fan 8 may be decreased. For this reason,in the perpendicular-direction-expanded part 11, the width in thehorizontal direction of the flow route may be kept constant or may beslightly constricted. In the axial-direction-expanded part 12, the widthin the vertical direction of the flow route may also be kept constant.

Because the flow route surface area of the axial-direction-expanded part12 is expanded proportionately to the downstream movement, it ispossible even in the axial-direction-expanded part 12 to recover kineticenergy for conversion to static pressure, thus further increasing thestatic pressure. The flow route surface area in theaxial-direction-expanded part 12 may also be kept constant. At such atime, the recovery of kinetic energy in the axial-direction-expandedpart 12 is decreased, but the recovery of kinetic energy in theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11 is able to provide anunprecedented increase in static pressure.

Because there are pluralities of the first divided passages 10 a, thesecond divided passages 10 b, and the third divided passages 10 ccoupled to the perpendicular-direction-expanded part 11 andaxial-direction-expanded part 12 and divided in the axial direction ofthe air blowing fan 8, the air flows flow along the wall surfaces of thefirst divided passages 10 a, the second divided passages 10 b, and thethird divided passages 10 c, and the air flows can be smoothly widenedin the axial direction of the air blowing fan 8.

The rotation shaft of the air blowing fan 8 is disposed so as to behorizontal, and the chassis 2 is disposed in the vicinity of the ceilingwall T in the room; the first outlets 4 a, the second outlets 4 b, andthe third outlets 4 c are formed on the upper end of the chassis 2, andthe air flows are delivered along the ceiling wall T. The air flowsdelivered along the ceiling wall T are thereby made to flow along theceiling wall T, due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect. Accordingly,the distance reached by the air flows can be further lengthened.

Next, FIG. 7 illustrates a side surface cross-sectional view of amicro-particle diffusion device of a second embodiment. For convenience,portions which are similar with respect to the aforedescribed firstembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 have been assigned like referencenumerals. In the present embodiment, the first outlets 4 a, the secondoutlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c, which, similarly with respect tothe first embodiment, are disposed horizontally next to each other, areopened in the lower part front surface of the chassis 2. Also, the inlet5 is opened in the upper surface of the chassis 2. Other portions aresimilar with respect to the first embodiment.

The chassis 2 of the micro-particle diffusion device 1 has apredetermined gap H from the ceiling wall T, and is attached onto theone side wall S in the room. The first divided passages 10 a, the seconddivided passages 10 b, and the third divided passages 10 c (see FIG. 4)are inclined upward by predetermined angles with respect to thehorizontal direction. The first air flow A1, the second air flow A2, andthe third air flow A3 are thereby made to reach the ceiling wall T andthereafter flow along the ceiling wall T.

The first air flow A1 having been delivered to the right from the firstoutlets 4 a flows along the ceiling wall T, and descends along the rightside wall (the first wall surface P1 (see FIG. 6)). The second air flowA2 having been delivered forward from the second outlets 4 b flows alongthe ceiling wall T, and descends along the side wall (the second wallsurface P2 (see FIG. 6)) facing the side wall S on which themicro-particle diffusion device 1 is disposed. The third air flow A3having been delivered to the left from the third outlets 4 c flows alongthe ceiling wall T, and descends along the left side wall (the thirdwall surface P3 (see FIG. 6)). The air flows descending the first wallsurface P1, the second wall surface P2, and the third wall surface P3flow along the floor surface F in the room, rise along the side wall S,and return to the inlets 5 from the sides of the micro-particlediffusion device 1.

According to the present embodiment, similarly with respect to the firstembodiment, because the first, second, and third air flows A1, A2, A3proceed along the wall surfaces due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect,the kinetic energy dispossessed by the air present in the room isminimized. For this reason, the distance reached by the air flows can beincreased and every corner in the room can be blanketed with ions.Accordingly, power can be conserved, and, because no air flow issupplied directly to the living space, the discomfort of the user can bereduced, and the ions can be adequately diffused into the room.

The micro-particle diffusion device 1 of the first embodiment may alsobe given the predetermined gap H from the ceiling wall T and attached onthe side wall S. Also, similarly with respect to the present embodiment,the first divided passages 10 a, the second divided passages 10 b, andthe third divided passages 10 c are made to be inclined upward bypredetermined angles with respect to the horizontal direction. Thismakes it possible to cause the first air flow A1, the second air flowA2, and the third air flow A3 to reach the ceiling wall T and thereafterflow along the ceiling wall T.

However, kinetic energy is dispossessed up until the first air flow A1,the second air flow A2, and the third air flow A3 reach the ceiling wallT. For this reason, in order to shorten the distance to the ceiling wallT, the gap H is preferably set to be at most 30 cm, and thepredetermined angle is preferably made to be at most 20° such that theair flows run smoothly along the ceiling wall T. Further, morepreferably, the first outlets 4 a, the second outlets 4 b, and the thirdoutlets 4 c are formed along the ceiling wall T, as in the firstembodiment.

Next, FIG. 8 illustrates a side surface cross-sectional view of amicro-particle diffusion device of a third embodiment. For convenience,portions which are similar with respect to the aforedescribed firstembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 have been assigned like referencenumerals. The present embodiment is provided with a downward passage 13in which air is discharged downward from the air blowing fan 8. Otherportions are similar with respect to the first embodiment.

With respect to the downward passage 13, a part of a housing of the airblowing fan 8 extends downward at both end parts in the axial direction,and a fourth outlet 4 d is opened in the lower surface of the chassis 2.A fourth air flow A4, which is delivered from the fourth outlet 4 d,descends along the side wall S on which the micro-particle diffusiondevice 1 is disposed. At such a time, the flow rate of the fourth airflow A4 is less than the flow rate of the second air flow A2, and is,for example, about 10% of the flow rate of the second air flow A2.

The fourth air flow A4 delivered from the fourth outlet 4 d descendsalong the side wall S. At such a time, the flow rate of the fourth airflow A4 is less than the flow rate of the second air flow A2, and is,for example, about 10% or less of the flow rate of the second air flowA2. Because the first, second, and third air flows A1, A2, A3 flowacross the entirety of the room and return to the inlet 5, in some casesthere may be a deficit of ions in the vicinity of the side wall S. Forthis reason, the fourth air flow A4 descends the side wall S andreplenishes the ions in the vicinity of the side wall, and returns tothe inlet 5 together with the first, second, and third air flows A1, A2,A3 rising along the side wall S.

Because, the present embodiment comprises the fourth outlet 4 d fordelivering the fourth air flow A4 along the side wall S on which themicro-particle diffusion device 1 is disposed, it is possible toreplenish the ions in the vicinity of the side wall S. At such a time,the fourth air flow A4 may resist the first, second, and third air flowsA1, A2, A3 returning to the inlet 5. However, because the flow rate ofthe fourth air flow A4 is less than the flow rate of the second air flowA2, the resistance caused by the fourth air flow A4 can be minimized.The fourth outlet 4 d may also be provided to the aforedescribed secondembodiment illustrated in FIG. 7.

Next, FIG. 9 illustrates a side surface cross-sectional view of amicro-particle diffusion device of a fourth embodiment. For convenience,portions which are similar with respect to the aforedescribed firstembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 have been assigned like referencenumerals. The present embodiment has the second divided passages 10 bfurther branching at a front end. Other portions are similar withrespect to the first embodiment.

A wedge-shaped partition plate 13, which widens at the front, isprovided to the front end of the second divided passages 10 b. Thereby,the second outlets 4 b are formed above the partition plate 13, and thefourth outlets 4 d are formed therebelow. The second air flow A2, whichis delivered from the second outlets 4 b, flows similarly with respectto the aforedescribed first embodiment.

The fourth air flow A4, which is delivered from the fourth outlet 4 d,is delivered forward and downward into the living space in the centerpart in the room. At such a time, the flow rate of the fourth air flowA4 is less than the flow rate of the second air flow A2, and is, forexample, about 10% or less of the flow rate of the second air flow A2.The fourth air flow A4 replenishes the ions in the living space in theroom, merges with the second air flow A2 on the floor surface F, andreturns to the inlet 5.

Because, the present embodiment comprises the fourth outlets 4 d fordelivering the forward and downward fourth air flow A4, the ions in theliving space in the center part in the room can be replenished. At sucha time, there exists the possibility that the fourth air flow A4 maydirectly hit the user, but because the flow rate of the fourth air flowA4 is less than the flow rate of the second air flow A2, the discomfortof the user can be minimized. The fourth outlets 4 d may also beprovided to the aforedescribed second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7.

A micro-particle diffusion device of a fifth embodiment is seen in aperspective view in FIG. 10 from above, is seen in a perspective view inFIG. 11 from below, and is seen in a front view in FIG. 12. Forconvenience, portions which are similar with respect to theaforedescribed first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 have beenassigned like reference numerals.

The micro-particle diffusion device 1 is covered by the chassis 2, andis mounted on the side wall S in the vicinity of the corner between theone side wall S and the ceiling wall T (see FIG. 4) in the room. Thepredetermined gap H (see FIG. 13) is provided between the chassis 2 andthe ceiling wall T (see FIG. 13).

A first inlet 5 a is opened in the lower surface of the chassis 2, andsecond inlets 5 b are opened in both side parts of the upper surface.The filter 6 is disposed at each of the first inlet 5 a and the secondinlets 5 b. In order from the right facing into the room, the firstoutlets 4 a, the second outlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c aredisposed next to each other in the horizontal direction on the frontsurface upper part of the chassis 2. The fourth outlets 4 d are openedin the two side parts of the lower surface of the chassis 2.

The first outlets 4 a, the second outlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 care provided to the upper end of the chassis 2, and deliver air flowingalong the ceiling wall T (see FIG. 13). As shall be described in greaterdetail below, the first outlets 4 a deliver air to the right from thechassis 2, the second outlets 4 b deliver air forward from the chassis2, and the third outlets 4 c deliver air to the left from the chassis 2.The fourth outlets 4 d deliver air downward.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a side surface cross-sectional view along D-Din FIG. 12 and a side surface cross-sectional view along E-E in FIG. 12.An air blowing fan 30 composed of a crossflow fan (cross-flow fan) isdisposed inside the chassis 2. The air blowing fan 30 is formed suchthat a crossflow-type impeller 33 is covered by a first casing 31 and asecond casing 32.

The impeller 33 is driven to rotate by a fan motor 33 a (see FIG. 10),and the rotation shaft is disposed so as to be horizontal. The drivingof the fan motor 33 a causes the air blowing fan 30 to draw in air fromthe circumferential direction of the impeller 33 and to discharge air inthe circumferential direction thereof. The first casing 31 and thesecond casing 32 are disposed next to each other in the axial directionof the impeller 33, the second casing 32 being disposed on both sides ofthe first casing 31.

The inside of the chassis 2 is provided with a first air blowing path10, in which air flowing in from the first inlet 5 a flows, and with asecond air blowing path 20 in which air flowing in from the secondinlets 5 b flows. An air flow route of the first air blowing path 10,the air flow route being downstream of the impeller 33, is formed by thefirst casing 31, and an air flow route of the second air blowing path20, the air flow route being downstream of the impeller 33, is formed bythe second casing 32.

The first casing 31 has one end where a first intake-side opening part31 a is opened; about half the circumference of the impeller 33 isdisposed so as to project from the first intake-side opening part 31 a.A gap between the impeller 33 and the first casing 31 is minimallyformed in the vicinity of the first intake-side opening part 31 a.Upstream of the impeller 33, the flow route surface area of the firstair blowing path 10 is greater than that of the first intake-sideopening part 31 a. A wall surface of the first casing 31 is curved at apredetermined curvature, and has a distal end where the first outlets 4a, the second outlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c are opened. Thefirst air blowing path 10, which couples the first outlets 4 a, thesecond outlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c with the first inlet 5 a,is thereby formed.

The second casing 32 has one end where a second intake-side opening part32 a is opened; about half the circumference of the impeller 33 isdisposed so as to project from the second intake-side opening part 32 a.A gap between the impeller 33 and the second casing 32 is minimallyformed in the vicinity of the second intake-side opening part 32 a.Upstream of the impeller 33, the flow route surface area of the secondair blowing path 20 is greater than that of the second intake-sideopening part 32 a. A wall surface of the second casing 32 is curved at apredetermined curvature, and has a distal end where the fourth outlet 4d is opened. The second air blowing path 20, which couples the fourthoutlets 4 d with the second inlets 5 b, is thereby formed.

The vicinity of the first intake-side opening part 31 a of the firstcasing 31 matches a shape where a predetermined range of the secondcasing 32 relative to the second intake-side opening part 32 a has beenrotatingly moved by a predetermined angle δ around the center ofrotation when seen from the axial direction. An opening surface of thefirst intake-side opening part 31 a and an opening surface of the secondintake-side opening part 32 a are thereby disposed at different anglesin the circumferential direction.

For this reason, the first casing 31 and the second casing 32 can beformed in a shape that is optimal for the air blowing fan 30 composed ofa crossflow fan, and an exhaust-side flow route of the first air blowingpath 10 and the second air blowing path 20 can be formed. This makes itpossible to reduce the loss of pressure, improve the air blowingefficiency, and reduce noise, without sharply bending the air flowsflowing through the first air blowing path 10 and through the second airblowing path 20.

FIG. 15 illustrates an upper surface cross-sectional view along C-C inFIG. 12. The pluralities of the first divided passages 10 a, the seconddivided passages 10 b, and the third divided passages 10 c, which aredivided in the horizontal direction, are provided in the stated orderdownstream of the air blowing fan 30 within the first air blowing path10. The first divided passages 10 a, the second divided passages 10 b,and the third divided passages 10 c each have a front end at which thefirst outlets 4 a, the second outlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 crespectively open. A side wall 10 e inside the first divided passages 10a and the third divided passages 10 c as well as a side wall 10 foutside the first divided passages 10 a and the third divided passages10 c are formed of a curved surface which is inclined with respect tothe vertical plane.

The perpendicular-direction-expanded part 11 and theaxial-direction-expanded part 12 (see FIG. 14) are formed downstream ofthe air blowing fan 30 within each of the first divided passages 10 a,the second divided passages 10 b, and the third divided passages 10 c.The perpendicular-direction-expanded part 11 has the flow routegradually expanding in the direction perpendicular to the rotation shaftof the air blowing fan 30. Downstream of theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11, the axial-direction-expandedpart 12 has a flow route gradually expanding in the axial direction ofthe rotation shaft of the air blowing fan 30 and gradually constrictingin the perpendicular direction thereof. The axial-direction-expandedpart 12 is inclined upward by a predetermined angle with respect to thehorizontal direction.

The flow route surface area of the axial-direction-expanded part 12 isexpanded proportionately to the downstream movement. The first dividedpassages 10 a, the second divided passages 10 b, and the third dividedpassages 10 c are formed coupled to the perpendicular-direction-expandedpart 11 and the axial-direction-expanded part 12.

Electrodes 7 a, 7 b of the micro-particle generation devices 7,similarly with respect to the above description, are disposed in anexposed manner on the first divided passages 10 a, the second dividedpassages 10 b, and the third divided passages 10 c. Each of theelectrode 7 a and the electrode 7 b is arranged partitioned by thepartition wall 10 d within the first divided passages 10 a, the seconddivided passages 10 b, and the third divided passages 10 c. Asillustrated in the aforedescribed FIG. 13, the second air blowing path20, too, has a similar micro-particle generation devices 7 disposed withthe electrodes 7 a, 7 b exposed.

In the micro-particle diffusion device 1 having the aforedescribedconfiguration, when the air blowing fan 30 and the micro-particlegeneration devices 7 are driven, the air present in the room is taken infrom the first inlet 5 a and the second inlets 5 b into the chassis 2.Dust in the air taken into the chassis 2 is collected by the filter 6,and the air then passes through the first air blowing path 10 and thesecond air blowing path 20 and is guided to the air blowing fan 30.

The air flow flowing through the second casing 20(*2) of the second airblowing path 20 is blown out downward and backward from the fourthoutlet 4 d. The air flow then descends along the side wall S on whichthe micro-particle diffusion device 1 is attached.

The air flow flowing through the first casing 31 of the first airblowing path 10 branches into the first divided passages 10 a, thesecond divided passages 10 b, and the third divided passages 10 c. Eachof the air flows is then guided to the first outlets 4 a, the secondoutlets 4 b, and the third outlets 4 c. At such a time, when therotation shaft of the air blowing fan 30 is arranged so as to bevertical, the centrifugal force causes the air flow to be uneven in thehorizontal direction. For this reason, the rotation shaft of the airblowing fan 30 can be disposed so as to be horizontal, thus renderingthe air flow in the horizontal direction uniform. Additionally, becausethe side wall 10 e inside the first divided passages 10 a and the thirddivided passages 10 c is inclined with respect to the vertical plane,the air flow proceeding straight in the circumferential tangentialdirection from the air blowing fan 30 can be readily curved.

In the perpendicular-direction-expanded part 11, the flow route widensin the vertical direction, and in the axial-direction-expanded part 12,the flow route widens in the horizontal direction. In theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11, which is upstream of theaxial-direction-expanded part 12, the centrifugal force of the airblowing fan 30 where air is discharged in the circumferential directionhas a major influence. For this reason, the air flow proceeds in thedirection perpendicular to the rotation shaft of the air blowing fan 30,and therefore a horizontal widening is not desirable. Causing the flowroute to be expanded in the vertical direction in theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11 recovers, and converts tostatic pressure, the kinetic energy of the air flow, thus increasing thestatic pressure. This makes it possible to improve the air blowingperformance of the micro-particle diffusion device 1. In theperpendicular-direction-expanded part 11, the width in the horizontaldirection of the flow route may be constant, or may be slightlyconstricted. At such a time, the flow route surface area is graduallyexpanded proportionately to the downstream movement.

In the axial-direction-expanded part 12, the flow route is expanded inthe horizontal direction in a state where the centrifugal force from theair blowing fan 30 is weakened, and therefore the air flow can besmoothly curved and widened in the horizontal direction without anyincrease in the loss of pressure. Also, the flow route is tightened inthe vertical direction, and therefore the air flow can be more smoothlywidened in the horizontal direction and any decrease in the speed of theair flow can be minimized. At such a time, because the flow routesurface area of the axial-direction-expanded part 12 is expandedproportionately to the downstream movement, the kinetic energy can alsobe recovered and converted to static pressure in theaxial-direction-expanded part 12 as well, thus increasing the staticpressure. In the axial-direction-expanded part 12, the width in thevertical direction of the flow route may be kept constant, and/or theflow route surface area may be kept constant.

The micro-particle generation devices 7 cause the air flows flowingthrough the first air blowing path 10 and the second air blowing path 20to include positive ions and negative ions. Air flows which includepositive ions and negative ions are thereby delivered from the firstoutlets 4 a, the second outlets 4 b, the third outlets 4 c, and thefourth outlets 4 d.

FIG. 16 illustrates a state of the air flows, in the room D, beingdelivered from the micro-particle diffusion device 1. The first air flowA1, which is delivered to the right from the first outlets 4 a, flowsalong the ceiling wall T, and descends along the right side wall (thefirst wall surface P1). The second air flow A2, which is deliveredforward from the second outlets 4 b, flows along the ceiling wall T, anddescends along the side wall (the second wall surface P2) facing theside wall S on which the micro-particle diffusion device 1 is disposed.The third air flow A3, which is delivered to the left from the thirdoutlets 4 c, flows along the ceiling wall T, and descends along the leftside wall (the third wall surface P3).

The fourth air flow A4, which is delivered from the fourth outlets 4 d,descends along the side wall S on which the micro-particle diffusiondevice 1 is disposed. At such a time, the flow rate of the fourth airflow A4 is less than the flow rate of the second air flow A2, and is,for example, about 10% of the flow rate of the second air flow A2.

The air flows descending the first wall surface P1, the second wallsurface P2, and the third wall surface P3 flow across the floor surfaceF in the room, rise along the side wall S, and return to the first inlet5 a of the micro-particle diffusion device 1. A part of the air presentin the room also returns to the second inlets 5 b from above themicro-particle diffusion device 1. This makes it possible for the airflows to be circulated along each of the wall surfaces in the room andfor every corner in the room to be blanketed with ions. Further, the airflows flowing along the wall surfaces cause the ions to be slowlydiffused into the living space in the center part in the room. Becausethe first, second, and third air flows A1, A2, A3 proceed along the wallsurfaces due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect, the kinetic energydispossessed by the air present in the room is minimized.

Specifically, in a case where an air flow does not run along the ceilingwall T, the upper side of the air flow pulls in peripheral air (airpresent between the ceiling wall T and the air flow) and kinetic energyis lost, dispossessed by the peripheral air. In the case where an airflow runs along the ceiling wall T, while the frictional resistance ofthe wall surface does cause kinetic energy to be lost, this is generallymuch smaller than the kinetic energy lost in a case where the air flowdoes not run along the ceiling wall T. This makes it possible tominimize power consumption and to increase the distance reached by theair flows.

Because the first, second, and third air flows A1, A2, A3 flow acrossthe entirety of the room and return to the first inlet 5 a, in somecases there may be a deficit of ions in the vicinity of the side wall S.For this reason, the fourth air flow A4 can descend the side wall S andreplenish the ions in the vicinity of the side wall. At such a time,because the flow rate of the fourth air flow A4 is less than the flowrate of the second air flow A2, the resistance caused by the fourth airflow A4 can be minimized.

Because the axial-direction-expanded part 12 of the first air blowingpath 10 is inclined upward by a predetermined angle with respect to thehorizontal direction, the first air flow A1, the second air flow A2, andthe third air flow A3 can be made to reach the ceiling wall T andthereafter flow along the ceiling wall T. However, kinetic energy isdispossessed until the first air flow A1, the second air flow A2, andthe third air flow A3 reach the ceiling wall T. For this reason, inorder to shorten the distance to the ceiling wall T, the gap H ispreferably set to be at most 30 cm, and the angle of incline of the airflow flowing through the axial-direction-expanded part 12 is preferablymade to be at most 20° such that the air flow runs smoothly along theceiling wall T.

The polarities of the ions generated by the electrodes 7 a, 7 b may alsobe switched each time a predetermined period of time elapses.Specifically, positive ions are generated from the electrode 7 a andnegative ions are generated from the electrode 7 b. When thepredetermined period of time elapses, negative ions are generated fromthe electrode 7 a and positive ions are generated from the electrode 7b. When the predetermined period of time has again elapsed, positiveions are generated from the electrode 7 a and negative ions aregenerated from the electrode 7 b, and this operation is repeated.

The positive ions and the negative ions are thereby alternatinglydelivered to the left end and the right end of the air flows beingdelivered with the first divided passages 10 a, the second dividedpassages 10 b, and the third divided passages 10 c widening left andright.

Accordingly, the positive ions and the negative ions can be distributedat high concentrations over a broad range in the horizontal directionwithin the living room. According to the present embodiment, because thefirst and second casings 31, 32 for covering the impeller 33 of the airblowing fan 30 are disposed next to each other in the axial direction ofthe impeller 33, and the outgoing directions of the air flows passingthrough each one are different from each other, a simple configurationcan be used to deliver air flows in a plurality of directions.Accordingly, every corner in the room can be readily blanketed withions. Because the air flows are not bent sharply, a decrease (*3) in theloss of pressure can be prevented, the air blowing efficiency can beimproved, and noise can be reduced.

The first casing 31, which has one end where the first intake-sideopening part 31 a from which the impeller 33 projects is opened, extendsto the exhaust side of the impeller 33, and the second casing 32, whichhas one end where the second intake-side opening part 32 a from whichthe impeller 33 projects is opened, extends to the exhaust side of theimpeller 33. An opening surface of the first intake-side opening part 31a and an opening surface of the second intake-side opening part 32 a aredisposed at different angles to the circumferential direction of theimpeller 33. This makes it possible to form the first and second casings31, 32 in a simple manner in a shape of low pressure loss optimal forthe air blowing fan 30. The outgoing direction of the air flow passingthrough the first casing 31 (forward and upward) and the outgoingdirection of the air flow passing through the second casing 32 (downwardand backward) can be readily formed so as to differ by 90° or more.

Because a predetermined range of the first casing 31 relative to thefirst intake-side opening part 31 a matches a shape where apredetermined range of the second casing 32 relative to the secondintake-side opening part 32 a has been rotatingly moved around thecenter of rotation of the impeller 33 when seen from the axial directionof the impeller 33, the optimally shaped first and second casings 31, 32can be formed in a more simple manner.

Because an air flow is delivered forward and upward into the room by thefirst casing 31 and an air flow is delivered downward into the room bythe second casing 32, every corner in the room can be readily blanketedwith ions. In a case where the gap H is small, the first casing 31 maycause the air flow to blow out in the horizontal direction.

Further, because an air flow is delivered forward and upward into theroom by the first casing 31 and an air flow is delivered downward intothe room by the second casing 32, the air present in the room can bereadily circulated to every corner. In a case where the gap H is small,the first casing 31 may cause the air flow to blow out in the horizontaldirection.

The first to fifth embodiments may also be made to be a circulator inwhich the micro-particle generation devices 7 are omitted, thecirculator being adapted for using the first, second, third, and fourthair flows A1, A2, A3, A4 to circulate air flows in a room. At such atime, because the first, second, and third air flows A1, A2, A3 proceedalong the wall surfaces due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect, thekinetic energy dispossessed by the air present in the room is minimized,and the distance reached by the air flows can be increased. Accordingly,power can be conserved, and, because no air flow is supplied directly tothe living space, the discomfort of the user can be reduced, and the airpresent in the room can be adequately circulated.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are a perspective view and a side surfacecross-sectional view illustrating a micro-particle diffusion device of asixth embodiment. For convenience, portions which are similar withrespect to the aforedescribed first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to6 have been assigned like reference numerals. The micro-particlediffusion device 1 is covered by the chassis 2, which is formed of aresin molding product. The micro-particle diffusion device 1 is floorsurface-mounted onto the floor surface F in the room, a bottom surfaceof the chassis 2 serving as the mounting surface against the floorsurface F. The micro-particle diffusion device 1 is disposed in thevicinity of the corner between the one side wall S and the floor surfaceF.

Inlets 5 for taking in the air present in the room into the chassis 2are opened in a lower part of a back surface and the front surface ofthe chassis 2. A first outlet 43 and a second outlet 53 for blowing outair flows are opened in the upper surface facing the mounting surface ofthe chassis 2. As shall be described in greater detail below, theopening area of the first outlet 43, which is disposed at a rear part,is formed so as to be smaller than the opening area of the second outlet53, which is disposed at a front part.

An air blowing fan 40 is disposed within the chassis 2. FIG. 19illustrates a front surface cross-sectional view of the air blowing fan40. The air blowing fan 40 is provided with a motor 9 having a rotationshaft 9 a which extends in the horizontal direction, and a plurality offirst and second impellers 41, 51 is attached onto the rotation shaft 9a. Thereby, the first and second impellers 41, 51 are disposed on thesame shaft, and are driven to rotate by the motor 9.

The first impeller 41 has a circular plate 41 a coupled to the rotationshaft 9 a, as well as a plurality of blades 41 b erected in a radiatingshape on both surfaces of the circular plate 41 a. Similarly, the secondimpeller 51 has a circular plate 51 a coupled to the rotation shaft 9 a,as well as a plurality of blades 51 b erected in a radiating shape onboth surfaces of the circular plate 51 a.

The first impeller 41 and the second impeller 51 are disposed within afirst casing 42 and a first (*4) casing 52, each forming air flowroutes. A predetermined gap, through which air having flowed into thechassis 2 from the inlets 5 (see FIG. 17) flows, is formed between thefirst and second casings 42, 52 and the chassis 2, as well as betweenthe first and second casings 42, 52.

The first casing 42 has a first cylindrical part 42 a and a firstoutgoing passage 42 c. The first cylindrical part 42 a is formed in asubstantially cylindrical shape for covering the first impeller 41, anda first air-intaking port 42 b is opened in both end surfaces in theaxial direction thereof. The first outgoing passage 42 c extends upwardin the circumferential tangential direction from the circumferentialsurface of the first cylindrical part 42 a, and has a distal end atwhich the first outlet 43 (see FIG. 18) is opened. Similarly, the firstcasing 52 (*5) has a second cylindrical part 52 a and a second outgoingpassage 52 c. The second cylindrical part 52 a is formed in asubstantially cylindrical shape for covering the second impeller 11(*6),and a second air-intaking port 52 b is opened in both end surfaces inthe axial direction thereof. The second outgoing passage 52 c extendsupward in the circumferential tangential direction from thecircumferential surface of the second cylindrical part 52 a, and has adistal end at which the second outlet 53 (see FIG. 18) is opened.

The air blowing fan 40 thereby constitutes a multistage centrifugal fan(a Sirocco fan or a turbo fan), and the rotation of the first and secondimpellers 41, 51 causes air to be drawn in from the first and secondair-intaking ports 42 b, 52 b in the axial direction and air to bedischarged in the circumferential direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the first cylindrical part 42 a and thesecond cylindrical part 52 a are disposed so as to be substantially inalignment when viewed from the side. Also, the direction in which thefirst outgoing passage 42 c extends from the first cylindrical part 42a, and the direction in which the second outgoing passage 52 c extendsfrom the second cylindrical part 52 a are different from each other inthe circumferential direction. The directions of the air flows blown outfrom the first and second outlets 43, 53 are thereby made to bedifferent. Specifically, an air flow is delivered vertically upward orbackward and upward, slightly backward from vertically upward, from thefirst outlet 43, as illustrated by the arrow B1, and an air flow isdelivered forward and upward from the second outlet 53 as illustrated bythe arrow B2.

The first outgoing passage 42 c has an upstream part 42 d, directlyafter the first cylindrical part 42 a, where the flow route is graduallyexpanded in the direction perpendicular to the shaft. In a downstreampart 42 e, which is downstream of the upstream part 42 d, the flow routeis gradually constricted in the direction perpendicular to the shaft upuntil the first outlet 43. The second outgoing passage 52 c has the flowroute gradually expanding in the direction perpendicular to the shaftbetween the second cylindrical part 52 a and the second outlet 53. Thewidth of the first outlet 43 in the direction perpendicular to the shaftis thereby rendered smaller than the width of the second outlet 53 inthe direction perpendicular to the shaft, and the opening area of thefirst outlet 43 is thereby rendered smaller than the opening area of thesecond outlet 53.

A plurality of electrodes (not shown) of the micro-particle generationdevices 7, similarly with respect to the above description, is disposedin an exposed manner within the first and second outgoing passages 42 c,52 c.

In the micro-particle diffusion device 1 having the aforedescribedconfiguration, when the motor 9 of the air blowing fan 40 and themicro-particle generation devices 7 are driven, the air present in theroom is taken in from the inlets 5 into the chassis 2. The air takeninto the chassis 2 flows into the first and second casings 42, 52 viathe first and second air-intaking ports 42 b, 52 b. The air havingflowed into the first and second casings 42, 52 is discharged in thecircumferential direction from the first and second cylindrical parts 12a, 22 a (*7), and flows through the first and second outgoing passages42 c, 52 c. The air flowing through the first and second outgoingpassages 42 c, 52 c includes ions, and is blown out in the directions ofthe arrows B1, B2 from the first and second outlets 43, 53,respectively.

At such a time, because the flow routes are widened in the directionperpendicular to the rotation shaft 9 a in the upstream part 42 d of thefirst outgoing passage 42 c, the kinetic energy of the air flows can berecovered and converted to static pressure, thus increasing the staticpressure. This makes it possible to improve the air blowing performanceof the air blowing fan 40. Further, because the flow route is tightenedin the direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft 9 a in thedownstream part 42 e, any decrease in the speed of the air flow can beminimized. This makes it possible for a high-speed air flow to be blownout from the first outlet 43, which has a small opening area.

Accordingly, the air blown out vertically upward or backward and upwardfrom the first outlet 43 rises along the side wall S in the vicinity ofthe micro-particle diffusion device 1. The air then passes across theceiling wall, the side wall facing the micro-particle diffusion device1, and floor surface F, and returns to the micro-particle diffusiondevice 1. Further, the air flows flowing along the wall surfaces causethe ions to be slowly diffused into the living space in the center partin the room. This makes it possible for the air flows to be circulatedalong each of the wall surfaces in the room and for every corner in theroom to be blanketed with ions.

Because the air flow having been blown out from the first outlet 43proceeds along the wall surface due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect,the kinetic energy dispossessed by the air present in the room isminimized. Specifically, in a case where an air flow does not run alongthe wall surface, the wall surface side of the air flow pulls inperipheral air (air present between the wall surface and the air flow)and kinetic energy is lost, dispossessed by the peripheral air. In thecase where the air flows run along the wall surface, while thefrictional resistance of the wall surface does cause kinetic energy tobe lost, this is generally much smaller than the kinetic energy lost ina case where the air flow does not run along the wall surface. Thismakes it possible to minimize power consumption and to increase thedistance reached by the air flows. The width of the flow route in thedirection perpendicular to the rotation shaft 9 a may be kept constantin the downstream part 42 e of the first outgoing passage 42 c.

The second outgoing passage 52 c has the flow route widening in thedirection perpendicular to the rotation shaft 9 a from the secondcylindrical part 52 a to the second outlet 53. For this reason, thekinetic energy of the air flow is recovered and converted to staticpressure, thus increasing the static pressure. This makes it possible tofurther improve the air blowing performance of the micro-particlediffusion device 1. A low-speed air flow is blown out from the secondoutlet 53, which has a large opening area.

The air having been blown out forward and upward from the second outlet53 replenishes the ions in the living space in the center part in theroom. Because of the low speed of the air flow being blown out from thesecond outlet 53, it is possible to prevent the discomfort caused bywind hitting the user in the living space.

The polarities of the ions generated by each of the electrodes of themicro-particle generation devices 7 may also be switched each time apredetermined period of time elapses. Specifically, positive ions aregenerated from one electrode, and negative ions are generated from theother electrode. When the predetermined period of time elapses, negativeions are generated from the one electrode, and positive ions aregenerated from the other electrode. When the predetermined period oftime has again elapsed, positive ions are generated from the oneelectrode, and negative ions are generated from the other electrode, andthis operation is repeated.

The positive ions and the negative ions are thereby alternatinglydelivered to the left end and the right end of the air flow.Accordingly, the positive ions and the negative ions can be distributedat high concentrations over a broad range in the horizontal directionwithin the living room.

According to the present embodiment, the first and second impellers 41,51, which are disposed on the same shaft, are driven by the one motor 9.Also, the direction in which the first outgoing passage 42 c extendsfrom the circumferential surface of the first cylindrical part 42 a forcovering the first impeller 41, and the direction in which the secondoutgoing passage 52 c extends from the circumferential surface of thesecond cylindrical part 21 a (*8) for covering the second impeller 51are different from each other in the circumferential direction; and theoutgoing direction (B1) of the air flow being blown out from the firstoutlet 43, and the outgoing direction (B2) of the air flow being blownout from the second outlet 53 are different from each other. This makesit possible to use a simple configuration to deliver air flows in aplurality of directions. Because the air flows are not bent sharply, anincrease in the loss of pressure can be prevented, the air blowingefficiency can be improved, and noise can be reduced.

Because the opening area of the first outlet 43 is smaller than theopening area of the second outlet 53, the wind speed of the first outlet43 can be rendered faster than the wind speed of the second outlet 53.This makes it possible to increase the distance reached by the air flowbeing blown out from the first outlet 43. It is also possible to preventthe discomfort of the user occurring when the air flow blown out fromthe second outlet 53 is delivered to the living space in the room.

Because the width of the first outlet 43 in the direction perpendicularto the shaft is smaller than the width of the second outlet 53 in thedirection perpendicular to the shaft, the wind speed of the first outlet43 can be rendered faster than the wind speed of the second outlet 53 ina simple manner.

The upstream part 42 d of the first outgoing passage 42 c has the flowroute gradually expanding in the direction perpendicular to the shaft,and the downstream part 42 e has the flow route kept constant orgradually constricted in the direction perpendicular to the shaft.Thereby, because the flow route surface area is not tightened in theupstream part 42 c immediately after the first impeller 41, the kineticenergy of the air flow can be adequately recovered, thus increasing thestatic pressure, and the air blowing efficiency can be improved.Thereafter, any decrease in the speed of the air flow is minimized inthe downstream part 42 e, and an air flow is blown out from the firstoutlet 43, which has a smaller opening area than that of the secondoutlet 53. This makes it possible to further increase the distancereached by the air flow being blown out from the first outlet 43 withoutincreasing the rotational speed of the air blowing fan 40.

Additionally, the second outgoing passage 52 c has a flow routegradually expanding in the direction perpendicular to the shaft, and anair flow is blown out from the second outlet 53, which has a largeopening area. This makes it possible to adequately recover the kineticenergy of the air flow, thus increasing the static pressure, and toimprove the air blowing efficiency, and also makes it possible toreadily cause an air flow having a lower speed than that of the firstoutlet 43 to be blown out from the second outlet 53.

An air flow is delivered vertically upward or backward and upward fromthe first outlet 43 by the first casing 42, and an air flow is deliveredforward and upward from the second outlet 53 by the first casing 52(*9). For this reason, when the micro-particle diffusion device 1 ismounted in the vicinity of the corner between the one side wall S andthe floor surface F in the room, the high-speed air flow blown out fromthe first outlet 43 passes across the side wall S, the ceiling wall, theopposite-facing side wall, and the floor surface F. Accordingly, theions can be adequately diffused into the room. Additionally, thelow-speed air flow is blown out from the second outlet 53 into theliving space in the room, and it is possible to replenish the ions inthe living space, and also possible to prevent the discomfort of theuser.

Because the first and second impellers 41, 51 have the blades 41 b, 21b(*10) on the both surfaces of the circular plates 41 a, 21 a(*11), andbecause the first and second air-intaking ports 42 b, 52 b are providedto both surfaces in the axial direction of the first and secondcylindrical parts 42 a, 52 a, respectively, it is possible to readilyrealize the air blowing fan 40, which is of small size and has a highwind rate.

FIG. 20 illustrates a side surface cross-sectional view of themicro-particle diffusion device 1 of a seventh embodiment. Forconvenience, portions which are similar with respect to theaforedescribed sixth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 20 have beenassigned like reference numerals. The present embodiment is providedwith HEPA filters 60 within the chassis 2, facing the inlets 5. Otherportions are similar with respect to the sixth embodiment.

The HEPA filters 60 collect dust present in the air flowing into thechassis 2 from the inlets 5. Clean air from which dust has been removedis thereby delivered into the room.

According to the present embodiment, an effect similar to that of thesixth embodiment can be obtained. Additionally, despite the provision ofthe HEPA filters 60, which cause a dramatic loss of pressure to the flowroute, having the air blowing fan 40 be a centrifugal fan having highstatic pressure allows any decrease in the air blowing efficiency to beprevented.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are a perspective view and a side surfacecross-sectional view illustrating a micro-particle diffusion device ofan eighth embodiment. For convenience, portions which are similar withrespect to the aforedescribed sixth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 17to 19 have been assigned like reference numerals. The micro-particlediffusion device 1 is covered by the chassis 2, which is formed of aresin molding product. The micro-particle diffusion device 1 iswall-mounted to the side wall S, the back surface of the chassis 2serving as the mounting surface against the one side wall S in the room.The micro-particle diffusion device 1 is disposed in the vicinity of thecorner between the side wall S and the ceiling wall T. The predeterminedgap H is provided between the chassis 2 and the ceiling wall T.

The inlet 5 for taking in the air present in the room into the chassis 2is opened in the upper surface of the chassis 2. The first outlet 43 andthe second outlet 53 for blowing out air flows are opened in the frontsurface, facing the mounting surface, of the chassis 2. The opening areaof the first outlet 43, which is disposed on the upper part, is formedso as to be smaller than the opening area of the second outlet 53, whichis disposed on the lower part.

The aforedescribed air blowing fan 40 similar to FIG. 19 is disposedwithin the chassis 2. The first outgoing passage 42 c of the firstcasing 42 for covering the first impeller 41 extends forward in thecircumferential tangential direction from the circumferential surface ofthe first cylindrical part 42 a, and has a distal end where the firstoutlet 43 is opened. The second outgoing passage 52 c of the secondcasing 52 for covering the second impeller 51 extends forward in thecircumferential tangential direction from the circumferential surface ofthe second cylindrical part 52 a, and has a distal end where the secondoutlet 53 is opened.

The first cylindrical part 42 a and the second cylindrical part 52 a aredisposed so as to be substantially in alignment when viewed from theside. Also, the direction in which the first outgoing passage 42 cextends from the first cylindrical part 42 a, and the direction in whichthe second outgoing passage 52 c extends from the second cylindricalpart 52 a are different from each other in the circumferentialdirection. The directions of the air flows blown out from the first andsecond outlets 43, 53 are thereby made to be different. Specifically, anair flow is delivered horizontally or forward and upward, slightlyupward from the horizontal direction, from the first outlet 43, asillustrated by the arrow B3, and an air flow is delivered forward anddownward from the second outlet 53 as illustrated by the arrow B4.

The micro-particle generation devices 7, similarly with respect to theabove description, are disposed in the first and second outgoingpassages 42 c, 52 c.

In the micro-particle diffusion device 1 having the aforedescribedconfiguration, when the motor 9 of the air blowing fan 40 and themicro-particle generation devices 7 are driven, the air present in theroom is taken in from the inlets 5 into the chassis 2. The air takeninto the chassis 2 flows into the first and second casings 42, 52 viathe first and second air-intaking ports 42 b, 52 b. The air havingflowed into the first and second casings 42, 52 is discharged in thecircumferential direction from the first and second cylindrical parts 12a, 22 a(*12), and flows through the first and second outgoing passages42 c, 52 c.

The air flowing through the first outgoing passage 42 c includes ions,and the kinetic energy of the air flow is recovered in the upstream part42 d and converted to static pressure, thus increasing the staticpressure. Any decrease in the speed of the air flow is minimized in thedownstream part 42 e, and a high-speed air flow is blown out in thedirection of the arrow B3 from the first outlet 43, which has a smallopening area.

The air having been blown out horizontally or forward and upward fromthe first outlet 43 flows along the ceiling wall T. Then, the air passesacross the side wall facing the micro-particle diffusion device 1 aswell as across the floor surface F, and returns to the micro-particlediffusion device 1. Further, the air flows flowing along the wallsurfaces cause the ions to be slowly diffused into the living space inthe center part in the room. This makes it possible for the air flows tobe circulated along each of the wall surfaces in the room and for everycorner in the room to be blanketed with ions.

The second outgoing passage 52 c has air which includes ions, and thekinetic energy of the air flow is recovered and converted to staticpressure, thus increasing the static pressure. This makes it possible tofurther improve the air blowing performance of the micro-particlediffusion device 1. A low-speed air flow is blown out in the directionof the arrow B4 from the second outlet 53, which has a large openingarea.

The air having been blown out forward and downward from the secondoutlet 53 replenishes the ions in the living space in the center part inthe room. Because of the low speed of the air flow being blown out fromthe second outlet 53, it is possible to prevent the discomfort caused bywind hitting the user in the living space.

According to the present embodiment, an effect similar to that of thesixth embodiment can be obtained. An air flow is delivered horizontallyor forward and upward from the first outlet 43 by the first casing 42,and an air flow is delivered forward and downward from the second outlet53 by the first casing 52 (*13). For this reason, when themicro-particle diffusion device 1 is mounted in the vicinity of thecorner between the one side wall S and the ceiling wall T in the room,the high-speed air flow being blown out from the first outlet 43 passesacross the ceiling wall T, the opposite-facing side wall, and across thefloor surface F. Accordingly, the ions can be adequately diffused intothe room. Additionally, the low-speed air flow is blown out from thesecond outlet 53 into the living space in the room, and it is possibleto replenish the ions in the living space while avoiding discomfort tothe user.

Next, FIG. 23 illustrates a side surface cross-sectional view of themicro-particle diffusion device 1 of a ninth embodiment. Forconvenience, portions which are similar with respect to theaforedescribed eighth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22 havebeen assigned like reference numerals. The present embodiment isprovided with the HEPA filter 60 within the chassis 2, facing the inlet5. Other portions are similar with respect to the eighth embodiment.

The HEPA filter 60 collects dust present in the air flowing into thechassis 2 from the inlet 5. Clean air from which dust has been removedis thereby delivered into the room. According to the present embodiment,an effect similar to that of the eighth embodiment can be obtained.Additionally, even despite the provision of the HEPA filter 60, whichcauses dramatic loss of pressure to the flow route, having the airblowing fan 40 be a centrifugal fan having high static pressure enablesany decrease in the air blowing efficiency to be prevented.

The sixth to ninth embodiments may also be made to be a circulator inwhich the micro-particle generation devices 7 are omitted, thecirculator being adapted to blow out air from the first and secondoutlets 43, 53 and to circulate air flows in a room. This makes itpossible to blow out air flows in a plurality of directions and toadequately circulate the air present in the room. At such a time, it ispossible to prevent an increase in the loss of pressure, improve the airblowing efficiency, and reduce the noise.

Because the high-speed air flow being blown out from the first outlet 43proceeds along the wall surface due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect,the kinetic energy dispossessed by the air present in the room isminimized, and the distance reached by the air flow can be increased.Further, the air flow being blown out from the second outlet 53 isdelivered at low speed into the living space, and it is possible toprevent the discomfort of the user.

The air blowing fan 40, though constituted of the two-stage centrifugalfan, may also be constituted of a centrifugal fan of three or morestages. Also, the rotation shaft 9 a of the motor 9 of the air blowingfan 40, though formed on two shafts extending in two directions, mayalso be formed on a single shaft extending in a single direction.

The micro-particle diffusion device 1 may also be wall-mounted, themounting surface of the micro-particle diffusion device 1 of the sixthand seventh embodiments being against the side wall S in the room. Amicro-particle diffusion device 1 similar to the eighth and ninthembodiments is thereby obtained. Accordingly, support is provided forboth floor surface mounting and wall mounting, in either of which casesthe air present in the room can still be favorably circulated and themicro-particle diffusion device 1 for diffusing the micro-particles intoevery corner in the room can still be realized.

The micro-particle diffusion device 1 may also be floor surface-mounted,the mounting surface of the micro-particle diffusion device 1 of theeighth and ninth embodiments being against the floor surface. Amicro-particle diffusion device 1 similar to the sixth and seventhembodiments is thereby obtained. Accordingly, support is provided forboth floor surface mounting and wall mounting, in either of which casesthe air present in the room can still be favorably circulated and themicro-particle diffusion device 1 for diffusing the micro-particles intoevery corner in the room can still be realized.

In the first to ninth embodiments, the micro-particle diffusion device 1delivers both positive ions and negative ions generated by themicro-particle generation devices 7, thus sterilizing the room. Themicro-particle generation devices 7 may also generate only negativeions, thus achieving a micro-particle diffusion device 1 for obtaining arelaxation effect within the room. The micro-particle generation devices7 may also generate an air freshener, deodorant, insecticide,disinfectant, or the like, thus achieving a micro-particle diffusiondevice 1 for deodorizing, killing insects, sterilizing, and the likewithin the room.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be used as a circulator circulating airpresent in a room. The present invention can also be used as amicro-particle diffusion device for delivering, and diffusing within aroom, ions or micro-particles of an air freshener, a deodorant, aninsecticide, a disinfectant, or the like.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 Micro-particle diffusion device-   2 Chassis-   4 a, 43 First outlet-   4 b, 53 Second outlet-   4 c Third outlet-   4 d Fourth outlet-   5 Inlet-   5 a First inlet-   5 b Second inlet-   6 Filter-   7 Micro-particle generation device-   8, 30, 40 Air blowing fan-   10 Air blowing path-   10 a First divided passage-   10 b Second divided passage-   10 c Third divided passage-   11 Perpendicular-direction-expanded part-   12 Axial-direction-expanded part-   13 Downward passage-   14 Partition plate-   20 Second air blowing path-   31 First casing-   32 Second casing-   33 Impeller-   41 First impeller-   41 a, 51 a Circular plate-   41 b, 51 b Blades-   42 First casing-   42 a First cylindrical part-   42 b First air-intaking port-   42 c First outgoing passage-   42 d Upstream part-   42 e Downstream part-   51 Second impeller-   52 Second casing-   52 a Second cylindrical part-   52 b Second air-intaking port-   52 c Second outgoing passage-   60 HEPA filter-   A1 First air flow-   A2 Second air flow-   A3 Third air flow-   A4 Fourth air flow-   F Floor surface-   P1 First wall surface-   P2 Second wall surface-   P3 Third wall surface-   S Side wall-   T Ceiling wall

1. An air blowing fan, comprising a crossflow-type impeller, and a firstcasing and a second casing for covering the impeller and for forming anair flow route, the first casing and the second casing being disposednext to each other in an axial direction of the impeller; and anoutgoing direction of the air flow passing through the first casing andan outgoing direction of the air flow passing through the second casingbeing different from each other.
 2. The air blowing fan according toclaim 1, the first casing having one end where a first intake-sideopening part from which the impeller projects is opened, and extendingtoward an exhaust side of the impeller; the second casing having one endwhere a second intake-side opening part from which the impeller projectsis opened, and extending toward the exhaust side of the impeller; and anopening surface of the first intake-side opening part and an openingsurface of the second intake-side opening part being disposed atdifferent angles relative to a circumferential direction of theimpeller.
 3. The air blowing fan according to claim 2, a predeterminedrange of the first casing relative to the first intake-side opening partmatching a shape where a predetermined range of the second casingrelative to the second intake-side opening part has been rotatinglymoved around the center of rotation of the impeller when seen from theaxial direction of the impeller.
 4. The air blowing fan according toclaim 2, the outgoing direction of the air flow flowing through thefirst casing, and the outgoing direction of the air flow flowing throughthe second casing differing by 90° or more from each other.
 5. An airblowing fan, comprising: a first impeller and a second impeller disposedon a single shaft; a motor for rotatingly driving the first impeller andthe second impeller; a first casing for covering the first impeller, thefirst casing having a first cylindrical part where a first air-intakingport is opened in an axial direction as well as a first outgoing passageextending from a circumferential surface of the first cylindrical partin a circumferentially tangential direction and having a distal endwhere a first outlet is opened; and a second casing for covering thesecond impeller, the second casing having a second cylindrical partwhere a second air-intaking port is opened in an axial direction as wellas a second outgoing passage extending from a circumferential surface ofthe second cylindrical part in a circumferential tangential directionand having a distal end where a second outlet is opened; the directionin which the first outgoing passage extends from the first cylindricalpart and the direction in which the second outgoing passage extends fromthe second cylindrical part being different from each other in thecircumferential direction, and an outgoing direction of the air flowblown out from the first outlet and an outgoing direction of the airflow blown out from the second outlet being different from each other.6. The air blowing fan according to claim 5, an opening area of thefirst outlet being smaller than an opening area of the second outlet. 7.The air blowing fan according to claim 6, a width of the first outlet ina direction perpendicular to the shaft being smaller than a width of thesecond outlet in a direction perpendicular to the shaft.
 8. The airblowing fan according to claim 6, the first outgoing passage having anupstream part where the flow route is gradually expanded in a directionperpendicular to the shaft, and, downstream of the upstream part, adownstream part where the flow route is kept constant or is graduallyconstricted in a direction perpendicular to the shaft until the firstoutlet; and the second outgoing passage having a flow route graduallyexpanding in a direction perpendicular to the shaft between the secondcylindrical part and the second outlet.
 9. The air blowing fan accordingto claim 5, the first impeller and the second impeller having a circularplate coupled to the motor, as well as blades erected in a radiatingshape on both surfaces of the circular plate; and the first air-intakingport and the second air-intaking port being provided to both surfaces,in the axial direction, of the first cylindrical part and the secondcylindrical part, respectively.
 10. A circulator for circulating airpresent in a room, the circulator being mounted on one side wall in theroom or on a ceiling wall located close to one side wall in the room;the circulator further comprising, in order from a first wall surfaceadjacent to the one side wall in the horizontal direction, a firstoutlet, a second outlet, and a third outlet, which outlets are disposednext to each other in a horizontal direction; a first air flow whichflows along the ceiling wall and descends along the first wall surfacebeing delivered from the first outlet; a second air flow which flowsalong the ceiling wall and descends along a second wall surface facingthe one side wall being delivered from the second outlet; and a thirdair flow which flows along the ceiling wall and descends along a thirdwall surface facing the first wall surface being delivered from thethird outlet.
 11. The circulator according to claim 10, comprising anair blowing fan made of a centrifugal fan or a cross-flow fan, and anair blowing path where the air blowing fan is disposed so that arotation shaft is disposed horizontally; the air blowing path beingdivided downstream of the air blowing fan; the first outlet, the secondoutlet, and the third outlet having a first divided passage, a seconddivided passage, and a third divided passage respectively opening on afront end; and a wall surface on an inside of the first divided passageand the third divided passage being inclined with respect to thevertical plane.
 12. The circulator according to claim 10, comprising afourth outlet for delivering downward a fourth air flow flowing alongthe one side wall.
 13. The circulator according to claim 10, comprisinga fourth outlet for delivering a fourth air flow oriented downward andforward, and a flow rate of the fourth air flow is less than a flow rateof the second air flow.
 14. A circulator, comprising: a chassis thatopens at an inlet and an outlet; an air blowing path for coupling theinlet and the outlet, the air blowing path being provided inside thechassis; and an air blowing fan for delivering an air flow in acircumferential direction, the air blowing fan being disposed in the airblowing path; the circulator being adapted to deliver, from the outlet,air present in the room flowing from the inlet into the air blowing pathand adapted to circulate the air present in the room; the air blowingpath having: a perpendicular-direction-expanded part where, downstreamof the air blowing fan, the flow route is gradually expanded in adirection perpendicular to a rotation shaft of the air blowing fan; and,downstream of the perpendicular-direction-expanded part, anaxial-direction-expanded part where the flow route is gradually expandedin an axial direction of the rotation shaft and is kept constant orgradually constricted in a direction perpendicular to the rotationshaft.
 15. The circulator according to claim 14, a flow route area ofthe axial-direction-expanded part expanding proportionately withdownstream movement.
 16. The circulator according to claim 14, having aplurality of divided passages coupled to theperpendicular-direction-expanded part and to theaxial-direction-expanded part, the divided passages being divided in theaxial direction of the rotation shaft.
 17. The circulator according toclaim 14, the chassis being disposed in the vicinity of the ceiling wallin the room, the rotation shaft being disposed horizontally; the outletbeing formed on an upper end of the chassis; and the air flow beingdelivered from the outlet along the ceiling wall.
 18. The circulatoraccording to claim 14, the chassis being disposed in the vicinity of theceiling wall in the room, the rotation shaft being disposedhorizontally; the outlet being formed on a lower part of the chassis;and the air flow being delivered upward from the outlet.
 19. Acirculator, comprising the air blowing fan according to claim 1; an airflow being delivered in a plurality of directions into a room; and airpresent in the room being circulated.
 20. The circulator according toclaim 19, an air flow being delivered into the room by the first casinghorizontally or forward and upward; and an air flow being delivereddownward into the room by the second casing.
 21. A circulator, the airblowing fan according to claim 5 being provided to a chassis; an airflow being delivered in a plurality of directions into a room; and theair present in the room being circulated.
 22. The circulator accordingto claim 21, an air flow being delivered by the first casing verticallyupward or backward and upward from the first outlet; and an air flowbeing delivered by the second casing forward and upward from the secondoutlet.
 23. The circulator according to claim 21, an air flow beingdelivered by the first casing horizontally or forward and upward fromthe first outlet; and an air flow being delivered by the second casingforward and downward into the room from the second outlet.
 24. Thecirculator according to claim 22, the first outlet and the second outletbeing provided to one surface of the chassis; a mounting surface facingthe one surface being able to abut a floor surface in the room and bemounted on the floor surface, and the mounting surface being able toabut a side wall in the room and to be mounted on the side wall.
 25. Thecirculator according to claim 21, comprising a HEPA filter forcollecting dust in the air flowing into the first casing and into thesecond casing.
 26. A micro-particle diffusion device for deliveringmicro-particles into a room, the device having a micro-particlegeneration device for generating the micro-particles, and the devicebeing mounted on a one side wall in the room or a ceiling wall locatedclose to the one side wall in the room, the micro-particle diffusiondevice further comprising, in order from a first wall surface adjacentto the one side wall in the horizontal direction, a first outlet, asecond outlet, and a third outlet disposed next to each other in thehorizontal direction; a first air flow which flows along the ceilingwall and descends along the first wall surface being delivered from thefirst outlet; a second air flow which flows along the ceiling wall anddescends along a second wall surface facing the one side wall beingdelivered from the second outlet; and a third air flow which flows alongthe ceiling wall and descends along a third wall surface facing thefirst wall surface being delivered from the third outlet.
 27. Amicro-particle diffusion device comprising: a chassis that opens at aninlet and an outlet; an air blowing path for coupling the inlet and theoutlet, the air blowing path being provided inside the chassis; an airblowing fan for delivering an air flow in a circumferential direction,the air blowing fan being disposed in the air blowing path; and amicro-particle generation device for generating micro-particles, themicro-particle generation device being disposed downstream of the airblowing fan; the micro-particles being introduced into air present inthe room flowing into the air blowing path from the inlet, and beingdelivered from the outlet; and the air blowing path having: aperpendicular-direction-expanded part where, downstream of the airblowing fan, the flow route is gradually expanded in a directionperpendicular to a rotation shaft of the air blowing fan; and,downstream of the perpendicular-direction-expanded part, anaxial-direction-expanded part where the flow route is gradually expandedin an axial direction of the rotation shaft and is kept constant orgradually constricted in the direction perpendicular to the rotationshaft.
 28. A micro-particle diffusion device, comprising the air blowingfan according to claim 1, as well as a micro-particle generation devicefor generating micro-particles; an air flow that includes themicro-particles being delivered into the room in a plurality ofdirections; and the micro-particles being diffused into the room. 29.The micro-particle diffusion device according to claim 28, an air flowbeing delivered into the room by the first casing horizontally orupward; and an air flow being delivered downward into the room by thesecond casing.
 30. A micro-particle diffusion device, comprising amicro-particle generation device for generating micro-particles withinthe circulator according to claim 21; an air flow that includes themicro-particles being delivered into the room in a plurality ofdirections; and the micro-particles being diffused into the room. 31.The micro-particle diffusion device according to claim 27, themicro-particles generated by the micro-particle generation deviceincluding any of ions, an air freshener, a deodorant, an insecticide, ora disinfectant.
 32. An air circulation method for causing air present ina room to circulate using a circulator mounted in a vicinity of a cornerbetween one side wall and a ceiling wall in the room; the circulatorcomprising, in order from a first wall surface adjacent to the one sidewall in the horizontal direction, a first outlet, a second outlet, and athird outlet disposed next to each other in the horizontal direction; afirst air flow which flows along the ceiling wall and descends along thefirst wall surface being delivered from the first outlet; a second airflow which flows along the ceiling wall and descends along a second wallsurface facing the one side wall being delivered from the second outlet;and a third air flow which flows along the ceiling wall and descendsalong a third wall surface facing the first wall surface being deliveredfrom the third outlet.
 33. The circulator according to claim 23, thefirst outlet and the second outlet being provided to one surface of thechassis; a mounting surface facing the one surface being able to abut afloor surface in the room and be mounted on the floor surface, and themounting surface being able to abut a side wall in the room and to bemounted on the side wall.
 34. The micro-particle diffusion deviceaccording to claim 28, the micro-particles generated by themicro-particle generation device including any of ions, an airfreshener, a deodorant, an insecticide, or a disinfectant.
 35. Themicro-particle diffusion device according to claim 29, themicro-particles generated by the micro-particle generation deviceincluding any of ions, an air freshener, a deodorant, an insecticide, ora disinfectant.
 36. The micro-particle diffusion device according toclaim 30, the micro-particles generated by the micro-particle generationdevice including any of ions, an air freshener, a deodorant, aninsecticide, or a disinfectant.